Footy Power Rankings: Manchester City stays top, Bayern Munich surges

Taking into consideration domestic and continental results, along with underlying stats, we'll try to figure out which clubs are among Europe's elite.

1. Manchester City (1st in Premier League)

Previous rank: 1st

Manchester City enjoyed another fantastic month of football. Yet to lose this season, Pep Guardiola's side embarrassed opposing defenders and took down heavyweight Napoli in the Champions League. City even harnessed the power of the counter-attack against the Partenopei, picking apart the Italian club with one of Jose Mourinho's trademarks. Kevin De Bruyne has inspired his teammates with defence-splitting passes, and Sergio Aguero is scoring on the biggest occasions. - AL

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

Previous rank: 2nd

Paris Saint-Germain's assault on Ligue 1 was briefly interrupted by Marseille, which managed to hold the capital club to a 2-2 draw and get Neymar sent off. In the three matches since that hiccup, however, Les Parisiens banged in an astounding 13 goals. Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani accounted for seven of them. - AL

3. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous rank: 6th

There were plenty of reasons to pity Carlo Ancelotti after his sudden firing as Bayern Munich manager, but the decision looks like the right choice. In his fourth spell on the Bayern bench, Jupp Heynckes has led the Bavarians' surge up the table. James Rodriguez appears to have found his feet under Heynckes, and Arjen Robben is back to his best. With Robert Lewandowski over his mini-drought, Bayern may be unstoppable the rest of the way. - AL

4. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

Previous rank: 3rd

Oddly enough, Barcelona's success this season is down to its rock-solid defence. No club in Europe's top-five leagues has conceded fewer goals than the Blaugrana's four. Credit must go to manager Ernesto Valverde, who has organised Barcelona into a cohesive unit after Neymar's departure. Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti have formed a real understanding a year after the Frenchman's arrival, and Nelson Semedo is emerging as a worthy successor to Dani Alves. And you'd hardly notice that Luis Suarez has gone six club matches without scoring. Goals from Paco Alcacer, Paulinho, and Gerard Deulofeu have lessened the Uruguayan's load. - AL

5. Lazio (4th in Serie A)

Previous rank:12th

Simone Inzaghi's tireless Lazio won every match in October, including a shocking comeback triumph over Juventus that ended the Old Lady's impressive home unbeaten streak. Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto are playing some of the best football of their careers, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is emerging as one of the most imposing midfielders across Europe. Inzaghi has fashioned a fantastic back-three out of Angolese defender Bastos, Dutchman Stefan De Vrij, and Romanian veteran Stefan Radu, with Lucas Leiva offering protection to the defenders. The Biancocelesti are just behind Napoli as Europe's most entertaining side. - AL

6. Napoli (1st in Serie A)

Previous rank: 5th

Setbacks against Manchester City shouldn't diminish Napoli's place on these rankings. Although their Champions League hopes remain hanging by a thread, the Partenopei are still the pace-setters in Serie A. As long as Napoli's front-three is firing, this team can go all the way. Questions over the club's depth are, however, valid. With enterprising left-back Faouzi Ghoulam out long term with an ACL tear, Napoli is suddenly vulnerable on the left flank. - AL

7. Tottenham (3rd in Premier League)

Previous rank: 8th

A big win on a big night at Wembley over mighty Real Madrid has deservedly thrusted Tottenham into the spotlight. Spurs also punished Premier League rival Liverpool, and although they dropped points to Manchester United, the 3-1 victory over Madrid confirmed the club's evolution into a top side. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen reminded everyone that Tottenham isn't just the Harry Kane team, producing the three legendary goals against Los Blancos. - AL

8. Valencia (2nd in La Liga)

Previous rank: 15th

Put every dollar you have on tonight's lotto if you predicted that Valencia would sit second in La Liga after 11 matches. It's been day and night from the club that finished 12th a season ago, with manager Marcelino Garcia Toral profiting from career-defining campaigns from Simone Zaza and Geoffrey Kondogbia, the goal-scoring exploits of Rodrigo, and the stunning emergence of PSG loanee Goncalo Guedes. - MC

9. Juventus (2nd in Serie A)

Previous rank: 10th

The Old Lady's six-year reign atop Italy's top flight faces a veritable threat as Serie A enjoys its most competitive campaign in recent memory. Juventus hasn't exactly helped its case despite sitting second, a point back of Napoli, and there are questions about the backline on the heels of Leonardo Bonucci's move to Milan and the speedy decline of Andrea Barzagli. Spoiler alert: Kwadwo Asamoah is not the solution, even with Alex Sandro's surprisingly poor form. - MC

10. Real Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

Previous rank: 4th

How the mighty have fallen. Months removed from a second successive Champions League crown and La Liga title, there's trouble in paradise. A shocking defeat at Catalan debutant Girona was followed by a humbling continental defeat to Tottenham, and suddenly, Zinedine Zidane's virtues as a manager have come into question. The 3-0 weekend win over Las Palmas has temporarily subdued the blood-thirsty doubters as Real Madrid looks ahead to a clash with rival Atletico on the other side of the international break. - MC

11. Inter (3rd in Serie A)

Previous rank: 9th

While San Siro co-tenant AC Milan hogged the headlines with a host of blockbuster summer moves, rival Inter quietly went about its business with a slew of shrewd signings, and my word, what a result. Alongside Napoli as Serie A's only unbeaten sides, Inter has conceded the third-fewest goals in Italy. A balanced squad highlighted by the dazzling rise of centre-half Milan Skriniar and the continued goal-scoring escapades of Mauro Icardi has Luciano Spalletti's lot in the Scudetto discussion. - MC

12. Roma (5th in Serie A)

Previous rank: N/R

Like Inter, Roma has profited from a defensively resolute approach, both domestically and on the continent. Edin Dzeko continues to produce goals for Eusebio Di Francesco's charges, and I Giallorossi's title credentials have been boosted by Stephan El Shaarawy's rise in form, the performance of first-choice shot-stopper Alisson, and Alessandro Florenzi's return from injury. - MC

13. Manchester United (2nd in Premier League)

Previous rank: 7th

There's a gaping chasm in Manchester United's midfield due to Paul Pogba's thigh concern, and that void was on display Sunday at Stamford Bridge as Romelu Lukaku's goalless drought hit seven matches in all comps. It's not the Belgian's fault that he's not getting any service, though United can take pride in a stingy backline that's conceded a scant five goals in the league this season. - MC

14. Chelsea (4th in Premier League)

Previous rank: 11th

After slumping to a 3-0 midweek defeat at Roma, Blues boss Antonio Conte understandably wigged out Sunday after Alvaro Morata's second-half header saw off visiting Manchester United and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. That victory helps Chelsea keep pace with volcanic-hot Manchester City nine points adrift while forging a buffer between fellow top-four hopefuls Liverpool and Arsenal. - MC

15. Lyon (3rd in Ligue 1)

Previous rank: N/R

No Lacazette, no Tolisso, no Gonalons, no problem for high-flying Lyon. A slew of high-profile summer sales ushered in the next generation of Les Gones - with stunning results. Sunday's one-sided Rhone-Alpes derby victory over rival Saint-Etienne allows Bruno Genesio's lot to keep pace with table-topping PSG, and the front-four of Memphis Depay, Mariano Diaz, Bertrand Traore, and captain Nabil Fekir combined for 29 Ligue 1 goals through a dozen matches. - MC

On the cusp: Villarreal, Sampdoria, Monaco