The 2025-26 Champions League season shall be again in 2026 after six matchdays of the league section occurred from September to December 2025, however the prime European leagues aren’t happening break in the intervening time. Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis are able to battle for an additional Premier League title whereas Bayern Munich are as soon as once more dominating the Bundesliga standings. Elsewhere, Actual Madrid are struggling and there may be rising strain on the place of the supervisor Xabi Alonso, whereas Hansi Flick’s Barcelona look sturdy. Let’s have a look our Energy Rankings:
1. Arsenal (–)
It was a difficult weekend for the aspect coached by Mikel Arteta, as Arsenal gained 2-1 thanks to 2 owngoals scored by Wolverhampton, with the profitable one within the final minute of stoppage time. Arsenal stay prime of the Premier League, holding a two-point lead over Manchester Metropolis, and after their 3–0 win in opposition to Membership Brugge final week, they’re the one workforce to have already secured a top-eight end and a spot within the Champions League knockout levels.
2. Bayern Munich (–)
If there may be one workforce nonetheless chasing Arsenal, that is Bayern Munich. The German giants gained 3-1 in opposition to Sporting CP within the final Champions League’s matchday and are dominating the league. Additionally, they have a brand new expertise who’s shining and displaying to be among the many greatest world wide: Lennart Karl, one to look at additionally for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
3. Barcelona (–)
Barcelona drastically improved within the final month and are coming from a powerful week with two wins in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt and Osasuna on Saturday, consolidating their LaLiga benefit on Actual Madrid. Hansi Flick can be welcoming a few of his greatest stars again within the workforce after their accidents and that is solely serving to Barcelona to be thought-about as probably the greatest groups round Europe and a stable Champions League contender.
4. Manchester Metropolis (+1)
All of us thought this wasn’t an excellent season for Manchester Metropolis after a troublesome begin. Properly, we must always have waited a bit extra. Pep Guardiola’s workforce are solely two factors behind Arsenal within the league and properly positioned to finish up within the prime eight of the Champions League standings. Erling Haaland scores in each single match, however that is not information actually.
5. PSG (-1)
The Champions League title holders look much less stable than the previous season once they dominated each in France and Europe, however on the finish of the day regardless of some large accidents they’re nonetheless there competing for a spot within the prime eight and one level behind Lens in Ligue 1. The sensation is that their situation will solely enhance any further and that they’ll grow to be a think about each competitions within the coming weeks.
6. Inter (–)
The Nerazzurri have been fairly disappointing of their final two Champions League matches, shedding to each Atletico Madrid and Liverpool after profitable their opening 4 video games within the league section. This season, they’ve struggled in opposition to prime opponents, and that isn’t an encouraging signal heading into the knockout levels, however they’re now again on the prime of the Serie A standings after the outcomes of the previous weekend.
7. Atletico Madrid (+1)
The Spanish giants are again on observe. After shedding two matches in a row in opposition to Barcelona and Athletic Membership, the workforce coached by Diego Simeone gained two matches in a row in opposition to PSV away after which at their residence stadium in opposition to Valencia and are actually near the highest 4 in LaLiga standings after which eyeing the highest eight of the Champions League standings.
8. Chelsea (-1)
Enzo Maresca’s workforce has solely gained two of the final 5 Premier League matches and the Italian supervisor confirmed some frustration within the put up match press convention of their recreation in opposition to Everton, hinting that there is likely to be some disagreements with the house owners. That is value maintaining in thoughts over the approaching weeks, particularly because the season is progressing strongly in each home and European competitions.
EFL Carabao Cup burning questions: Why is Enzo Maresca sad at Chelsea and may beating Cardiff repair it?
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9. Actual Madrid (–)
What’s going on at Actual Madrid? Issues look a bit higher for Xabi Alonso after the Spanish giants gained in opposition to Alaves over the weekend however it’s nonetheless a troublesome second for the Blancos and the coach, who’s dealing with a giant strain after some disappointing outcomes, together with the 2-1 defeat in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
10. Liverpool (+1)
Mo Salah left Liverpool and joined Egypt because the African workforce shall be taking part in in AFCON later this month. That is going to be a key month for the way forward for the Liverpool star as he would possibly depart within the January switch window. Alternatively, the 2 wins in opposition to Inter away after which at Anfield in opposition to Brighton cleared the air across the place of Arne Slot, who can depend on the belief of each the workforce and the fanbase once more.
11. Atalanta (+7)
Atalanta are by far the workforce that improved essentially the most not too long ago as they appear fully completely different since Raffaele Palladino changed Ivan Tudor on the bench. The house win in opposition to Chelsea final week clearly confirmed that this workforce can compete with Europe’s elite, and Palladino might realistically information them into the highest eight of the league section. In Serie A, Atalanta are bettering and steadily returning to the extent they belong to, even when they are going to seemingly want a bit extra time to totally settle.
12. Newcastle (-2)
Issues look fully completely different for Newcastle in comparison with the previous season and the most recent 1-0 defeat within the Derby in opposition to Sunderland confirmed that this isn’t an excellent season thus far for them. They’ll nonetheless, and they need to, make it into the subsequent section however they do not look as sturdy as earlier than.
13. Olympique Marseille (–)
The aspect coached by Roberto De Zerbi is doing nice this season and the final two Champions League wins put them in a powerful place forward of the subsequent section. Be careful for them, they aren’t solely thrilling to look at but in addition a workforce that may put others in hassle in Europe. Within the French league they’re solely 5 factors behind Lens, and 4 behind PSG.
14. Galatasaray (-2)
The final two defeats within the Champions League in opposition to Union SG and AS Monaco confirmed that they aren’t dwelling their greatest second, however with a lot expertise I can nonetheless see them to be a difficult outsider when a workforce will go to workforce within the playoffs in February in entrance of their residence followers.
15. Borussia Dortmund (–)
The house draw in opposition to Bodo/Glimt was a bit disappointing for the 2024 Champions League finalists, however on the identical time they’re the place we might anticipate them to be: center of the desk with excessive probabilities to finish up within the prime 16.
16. Tottenham (-1)
They give the impression of being higher in Europe than within the Premier League the place Thomas Frank’s workforce has solely gained one of many final 5 matches and already misplaced six video games in 16 matches thus far. It appears that evidently what occurred final season wasn’t a coincidence and it’ll take extra time to see if Frank would be the coach capable of flip issues round.
17. Sporting CP (–)
The Portuguese workforce are difficult Porto on the prime of the home league and hoping to land within the playoffs of the Champions League. We might anticipate them to lose at Bayern Munich and the subsequent two video games in opposition to PSG and Athletic Membership will inform us extra about their European expectations.
18. Bayer Leverkusen (+1)
The house draw in opposition to Newcastle slowed down their probabilities to finish up within the prime 16, which might imply taking part in at residence within the second leg of the Champions League playoffs, however it’s not over but.
19. Juventus (+1)
Appears to be like like Luciano Spalletti discovered a means to enhance his workforce. They’re nonetheless struggling regardless of the constructive outcomes in opposition to Pafos in Europe after which an away win in opposition to Bologna over the weekend, however issues look a lot better in comparison with some weeks in the past. Lastly, it appears Juventus are getting again on observe
20. Napoli (-4)
Antonio Conte is in hassle, as soon as once more. Accidents are undoubtedly having an impression on the performances, however the Champions League defeat in opposition to Benfica might actually value them so much. They’re in danger to not find yourself within the prime 24 and being eradicated within the league section. Not good.
21. PSV (+1)
The Dutch aspect are dominating the league with 14 wins in 16 matches and are within the race to finish up within the league section’s prime 24 proper now. Their solely two wins in Europe this season? A shocking 4-1 win at Liverpool away and a dominant 6-2 rout of Napoli at residence. They carry out greatest when dealing with the large groups
22. AS Monaco (-1)
They’re struggling this season in each European and home leagues, however with their just one defeat within the Champions League they’re nonetheless within the race for a playoff spot.
23. Membership Brugge (–)
They’ve the expertise wanted, however it does not appear to be sufficient for this season. After profitable their first residence recreation of the league section, they misplaced twice, drew 3-3 in opposition to Barcelona, then misplaced 3-0 to each Sporting CP and Arsenal within the final matchday final week.
24. Benfica (+5)
Can Jose Mourinho make it? I did not suppose so earlier than their thrilling 2-0 win in opposition to Napoli. They’re doing a lot better proper now and so they nonetheless have an opportunity. I imagine within the Particular One!
25. Copenaghen (–)
I did not suppose that they had an opportunity to qualify for the subsequent spherical however the 3-2 away win in opposition to Villarreal fully modified their look within the standings.
26. Qarabag (-1)
A powerful begin for them, all of us hoped they may very well be an excellent story, however possibly we overestimated them. Dropping to Ajax at house is quiet shocking this season.
27. Eintracht Frankfurt (-1)
Final week I wrote that the Barcelona away match was their final likelihood for the playoffs and so they misplaced. That is in all probability the top of their desires however it’s over when is over.
28. Union Saint-Gilloise (+1)
The newest residence defeat in opposition to Olympique Marseille wasn’t what they wanted to have some qualification hope.
29. Athletic Membership (-2)
I’ve to be sincere. I used to be anticipating so much from this workforce this season within the Champions League and if I am not flawed I even put them as a shock in our preview of the event. I am afraid I used to be flawed!
30. Villarreal (-1)
They’re in all probability the most important shock in LaLiga, sitting third behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, however a catastrophe within the Champions League. I can not discover an evidence: Can somebody assist me?
31. Pafos (–)
The workforce from Cyprus are doing greater than we might anticipate and they’re in twenty sixth place after their first historic Champions League win in opposition to Villarreal, however then misplaced to Juventus within the final matchday of 2025.
32. Slavia Prague (–)
Sadly, they are not on the degree of the opposite groups within the event however we might see that coming. This isn’t a shock to be sincere.
33. Olympiacos (–)
They lastly gained their first Champions League match of the season away in opposition to Kairat. Too late and never sufficient.
34. Bodo/Glimt (–)
One level behind from the leaders within the Norwegian league standings however mainly no hopes in Europe regardless of an thrilling away attract Germany in opposition to Borussia Dortmund. One to recollect.
35. Ajax (+1)
Huge information: Ajax will not be within the final spot of our energy rankings anymore due to their first win in opposition to Qarabag. How thrilling!
36. Kairat (-1)
Simply competing within the Champions League is already a historic achievement for the membership. We nonetheless love them.
