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Footy Power Rankings - Feb. 9: Barcelona simply a class above

Albert Gea / Reutesr

Every week until the end of the season, we'll attempt to organize the beautiful, chaotic world that is European football. Taking into consideration domestic and continental form, strength of schedule and underlying statistics, we'll try to figure out which teams can rightfully claim to be Europe's elite. You'll disagree with most of it, of course.

Time to find out who has the, um, power.

Note: Goal totals include league and European competition only; no domestic cup tournaments included.

1. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
17-3-2 4-2-0 71 21

Most supporters get upset when their team of choice fails to win, be it a disappointing draw or outright loss. Not Barcelona fans. Oh no. Blaugrana acolytes pronounce their dismay when Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar fail to annihilate opponents. The Catalan club, easily the most unstoppable attacking force on the planet - just go back and watch what they did to Atletico Madrid - could only muster a laborious 2-0 win over Levante on Sunday. Never mind that it was the club's 28th consecutive match (in all competitions) without defeat. It was dour and lacking the pizzazz associated with Luis Enrique's side, and thus wasn't deemed good enough. "We want more 7-0 wins," they cried. If only your team had such problems.

2. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
17-2-1 5-0-1 69 12

Injuries, particularly to Pep Guardiola's best defenders, continue to linger, threatening to derail what has always had the makings of a dominant season - both domestically and, more importantly, in Europe. And yet, riddled as the club is, Bayern Munich was riding a six-match winning streak prior to Saturday's goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Over the last seven games, the doyen of the Bundesliga has conceded just one goal, despite rolling out lineups that, in classic Pep style, have midfielders patrolling the backline. If they get healthy, Guardiola could very well be heading to Manchester with another Champions League title in tow.

3. Real Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
15-5-3 5-1-0 85 24

Zinedine Zidane has this collection of attacking stars playing the open, attractive football that supporters begged for while Rafa Benitez was putting them to sleep on a weekly basis. Does it occasionally leave Los Blancos open at the back? Sure. But then, who cares when you can undo nearly 90 minutes worth of impressive work from an opponent with one moment of magic like this:

Modric rocket vs. Granada - Streamable

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

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
22-3-0 4-1-1 75 13

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co. haven't tasted defeat in Ligue 1 since March of last year. League strength notwithstanding, that is absolutely absurd. This is the fourth-best team in the world, slotting in behind a top three that will seemingly occupy those spots, in some order, in perpetuity.

5. Atletico Madrid (2nd in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
16-3-4 4-1-1 45 14

Not even Diego Simeone's nearly impenetrable defensive unit could stop Barcelona when the two clashed at the Camp Nou last month, but that says more about the latter's status as the most fearsome club around than it does about Atletico Madrid's claim to being one of football's elite sides. With Antoine Griezmann leading the line, a host of young talent available off the bench, and, most impressively, a brick wall for a defence, the other Madrid club remains the best team that gets the least attention in Europe.

6. Borussia Dortmund (2nd in Bundesliga)

League Record European Record (Europa League) Goals Scored Goals Against
14-3-3 3-1-2 62 29

If only Thomas Tuchel's side was in the Champions League. In the eyes of many football fans, there's an inherent inferiority that goes along with participating in the Europa League, and the fact that Borussia Dortmund plays on Thursday evenings instead of Tuesday and Wednesday has blinded many to just how brilliant Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his cohorts are.

7. Arsenal (3rd in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
14-6-5 3-0-3 51 33

This is the year, right? This has to be the year. Mesut Ozil is playing out of his mind, Alexis Sanchez is getting back to full fitness at the ideal time, and David Ospina is on the bench, where he can't cost the Gunners any crucial points down the stretch. Now, if only Arsene Wenger would sit Mathieu Flamini down and staple him right beside the Colombian 'keeper, Arsenal - who desperately needs Francis Coquelin to remain healthy until May - could actually pull this off.

8. Juventus (2nd in Serie A)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
17-3-4 3-2-1 51 17

A club record 14 consecutive Serie A wins has kept the Old Lady in striking distance of league leader Napoli, with Paul Pogba and burgeoning superstar Paulo Dybala serving as the catalysts for a run that has seen Juventus surge back into the conversation as one of Europe's premier sides. The hallmark of historic Bianconeri sides has also come to the fore, with Massimiliano Allegri's club on a run of seven straight clean sheets in all competitions, outscoring opponents 15-0 over that stretch. Udinese, Chievo, Genoa, and Frosinone isn't exactly a murderer's row of opponents, though. This weekend's meeting with Napoli and the impending Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, on the other hand ...

9. Manchester City (4th in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
14-5-6 4-0-2 59 34

Easily the most aggravating team on this list, Manchester City - torn apart by Leicester this past weekend - boasts immense talent in key areas, and yet, despite unlimited funds, is quite hilariously ill-constructed. Significant injuries (read, Vincent Kompany) have exacerbated the situation, no doubt, but some of this is simply on the front office. Martin Demichelis has the pace of a wax sculpture, Jesus Navas is the most predictable player on earth, and Yaya Toure can barely move anymore.

And yet, here they are. Sheer talent can have that effect.

10. Napoli (1st in Serie A)

League Record European Record (Europa League) Goals Scored Goals Against
17-5-2 6-0-0 75 22

Gonzalo Higuain is literally never going to stop scoring. That is all.

On the Cusp: Tottenham, Leicester City

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