The Footy Power Rankings - May 4: Barcelona still well ahead of chasing pack

We're back after an extended hiatus.

Let's see which European clubs have, um, the power.

Note: Goal totals includes league and European competition only.

1. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 1st

Over the last month: 8-0. 6-0. Three consecutive 2-0 wins. 4-0. They've essentially been like your average teenager playing FIFA on amateur.

Barcelona has lost two games in 2015. Two. 

Even Xavi, who we all thought was kind of finished early in the season - you did, don't lie - is still scoring brilliant goals.

Unfair. That's the only word to describe what is quite clearly the best team in the world.

2. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga champions)

Previous Rank: 2nd

No Arjen Robben, David Alaba or Franck Ribery? It's all good - Bayern Munich has Batman. 

(Unlike Borussia Dortmund and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, this masked vigilante doesn't need a sidekick).

Their banter game is on point, too, which is really the only thing that matters.

3. Real Madrid (2nd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 3rd

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick in Saturday's wild 3-2 win over Sevilla.

The world, accustomed to his brilliance and that of the star-studded crew around him, yawned. That's how commonplace this type of attacking brilliance has become at Real Madrid.

And now they get Gareth Bale back from a calf injury for the final weeks of the season. No big.

4. Chelsea (Premier League champions)

Previous Rank: 4th

Boring old Chelsea just clinched the Premier League title with a goal from the newly minted PFA Player of the Year, who just happens to be one of the most mesmerizing wingers on the planet.

They also employ the most batshit crazy striker in the world and have a living, breathing tank playing right-back. Boring? Jose Mourinho disagrees:

Everything football demands from a team we have had ...

We did everything the team needs to do. That’s why we're champions. That's why we deserve it. Everybody knows that. The people who have a big face to say we don't deserve it are the ones who, in my country, we have a saying for: the dogs bark and the caravan goes by.

Tell 'em, Jose.

5. Juventus (Serie A champions)

Previous Rank: 5th

Serie A champions for a fourth consecutive season. Into the semifinals of the Champions League and the finals of the Coppa Italia. Juventus could be on the verge of something truly spectacular this season.

Recent losses to Parma and Torino don't even come close to mitigating that.

More importantly, Juventus's title win gave Andrea Pirlo the opportunity to hit the bubbly. The coolest man on earth with a bottle of champagne is worthy of the top five all by itself.

Oh yeah, Paul Pogba is on his way back. Everything's right in Turin.

6. Arsenal (3rd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 7th

Thierry Henry can complain about the state of his former club all he wants. They'll just be here, winning matches - nine in a row ahead of their goalless draw with Chelsea last week - and looking good doing it.

Seriously, with model-cum-footballer Olivier Giroud leading the way and Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey following closely behind, the Gunners have the best hair game in Europe.

May the fourth flow be with you.

7. Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 11th

Two losses in their last ten matches have the Parisian club three points clear in Ligue 1. Both of those losses came against Barcelona. 

Even Edinson Cavani, he of endless scorn in the French capital, is scoring goals. 

He's stealing them from Gregory van der Wiel, but that's beside the point.

8. Atletico Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 10th

Diego Simeone's team, despite the brilliance of Antoine Griezmann, isn't quite what it was last season. And that's nothing to be ashamed about.

9. Manchester City (2nd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 8th

With a squad that is old, stale and desperately in need of new blood, Manchester City is still easily one of the best teams in England and will waltz into the Champions League once again.

It's not all bad on the blue half of Manchester.

10. Bayer Leverkusen (4th in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 14th

Hakan Calhanoglu > Manuel Neuer.

11. Porto (2nd in Primeira Liga)

Previous Rank: 9th

Typically, getting blasted out of the Champions League by virtue of a 6-1 loss is grounds for dismissal from lists such as this. When it happens at the hands of Bayern Munich, at the Allianz Arena, you get a pass.

This is your one, Porto.

12. Lyon (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: NA

Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir, who have combined for 39 goals and 15 assists in Ligue 1 this season, are absolute stars.

If you haven't had the privilege of watching them dominate this season, don't worry - they'll be coming to a top club near you very, very soon.

13. Sevilla (5th in La Liga)

Previous Rank: NA

Sevilla, into the semifinals of the Europa League - where they are looking to defend last season's crown - lost an absolute thriller to Real Madrid over the weekend, succumbing to a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo.

It was their first loss at the Sanchez Pizjuan in 35 matches - a run that extends back to February of last year.

Is this the most underappreciated team in Europe? Think about it. 

14. Valencia (4th in La Liga)

Previous Rank: NA

Valencia isn't playing nearly as well as they were in January and early February, but Los Che are still sitting pretty in the top four, and could highlight their season by ending Real Madrid's title challenge when they visit the Bernabeu this weekend.

15. Benfica (1st in Primeira Liga)

Previous Rank: 12th

Benfica did a perfect Chelsea impression last week, holding their title rivals Porto to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio da Luz that ensured the Eagles remained atop the table in Portugal.

I still think Porto is a better team. Sometimes, the best team doesn't win.

Dropped Out: Manchester United, Liverpool, Wolfsburg

On the Cusp: Napoli, Monaco, PSV