Champions League Power Rankings: Arsenal Holds Its Ground as Europe’s Best, While Chelsea Takes a Hit

This week marks the return of the Champions League with Round 6, the final matches before the season pauses until the end of 2025. Each team is in a fierce battle to secure spots for the finals, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona showcasing impressive form, despite facing some challenges. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Inter Milan appear to have regained their momentum after earlier setbacks in the tournament. Let’s dive into the power rankings following five rounds of matches.

Remember, you can catch all UEFA Champions League action this season on Paramount+.

Experts weigh in on UEFA Champions League predictions for Round 6: Can Liverpool overcome their struggles against Inter?

Pardeep Khatri

1. Arsenal (–)

Despite suffering a second Premier League defeat to Aston Villa, Arsenal remains the top team in Europe, leading Manchester City by two points and boasting a flawless record in their five Champions League matches, including a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich at home.

2. Bayern Munich (–)

Bayern Munich holds an eight-point lead over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and has suffered just one loss across all competitions, against Arsenal. With consistent performances from key players like Luis Diaz and Harry Kane, they continue to be a dominant force in European football. Young talent Lennart Karl has also emerged, a likely candidate for Germany’s World Cup team in 2026.

3. Barcelona (–)

Barcelona’s retention of third place is partly due to the struggles of rivals like Real Madrid, as their team leads La Liga by four points. With the return of Pedri and standout performances from Ferran Torres, who has scored 13 goals in 19 matches, they aim to solidify their position.

4. PSG (–)

Surprisingly, PSG are currently second in Ligue 1, trailing Lens by one point. Injuries to key players, including Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, have hampered their performance, and while they’ve been dominant in the past, it may take time to return to that level this season.

5. Manchester City (+1)

With Arsenal’s loss, Manchester City has a renewed shot at the Premier League title. Manager Pep Guardiola is finally seeing his squad gel, and Erling Haaland continues to be a scoring machine with 20 goals in 20 matches across competitions.

6. Inter Milan (+1)

Despite recent losses to AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, Inter is bouncing back with positive results, including a decisive 4-0 win against Como. With Liverpool struggling, this presents a pivotal opportunity for Inter to capitalize and strengthen their Champions League position.

7. Chelsea (-2)

After an impressive victory over Barcelona, Chelsea’s form has dipped, resulting in no wins in their last three fixtures, including defeats and draws against lesser rivals.

8. Atletico Madrid (+2)

Atletico Madrid has faced inconsistency lately but remains competitive in both La Liga and the Champions League. They need to bounce back and secure wins to maintain their standings.

9. Real Madrid (-1)

Real Madrid’s situation continues to deteriorate, with just one win in their last five La Liga matches. Xabi Alonso’s position is under threat; a loss against Manchester City could lead to significant consequences.

10. Newcastle (+1)

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle is on an upward trend, winning four of their last five Premier League games, and securing a vital draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League could boost their continental ambitions.

11. Liverpool (-1)

Things are bleak for Liverpool as Mo Salah hints at a possible departure after the AFCON. His exclusion from the squad for the upcoming clash against Inter in Milan raises questions about his future with the team.

Mohamed Salah will miss the Champions League clash for Liverpool with rising interest from Saudi clubs for January transfers.

James Benge

12. Galatasaray (–)

Galatasaray leads the Turkish league and is well-poised to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League, backed by a passionate fan base.

13. Olympique de Marseille (–)

Marseille has struggled recently, lying five points behind Reims in Ligue 1, but a recent 2-1 win against Newcastle has revitalized their campaign for European advancement.

14. Borussia Dortmund (+1)

Dortmund is enjoying a positive stretch with three wins in their last four games and has a key matchup against Bodø/Glimt, which could advance them further in the tournament.

15. Tottenham (-1)

Despite a promising start, Tottenham finds themselves in a slump with only one victory out of their last four matches, creating challenges for both domestic and European competitions.

16. Napoli (+1)

Napoli has found their rhythm again, claiming the top spot in Serie A after a crucial 2-1 win over Juventus, despite setbacks earlier in the season.

17. Sporting CP (-1)

After a derby draw with Benfica, Sporting CP faces Bayern Munich in a crucial game that will impact their chances of advancing in the Champions League.

18. Atalanta (–)

Atalanta’s new coach Raffaele Palladino had an immediate impact but suffered a disappointing loss against Hellas Verona, and a home match against Chelsea could be pivotal for their season.

19. Bayer Leverkusen (+1)

Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory against Manchester City, feeling revitalized under new coach Kasper Urmand.

20. Juventus (-1)

Juventus faced their first defeat under Luciano Spalletti against Napoli, and their upcoming match against Paphos in Turin is crucial for a turnaround.

21. AS Monaco (–)

This week is critical for AS Monaco as they prepare to face Galatasaray and then Olympique de Marseille, with Paul Pogba back in action.

22. PSV (–)

While PSV has had a rocky start, they’ve made waves with significant wins, including a 6-2 victory over Napoli and a 4-1 triumph against Liverpool, showcasing their offensive prowess.

23. Club Brugge (–)

Despite having the talent, Club Brugge has struggled, winning one match before suffering disappointing losses against Barcelona and Sporting CP.

24. Karabag (-1)

After a promising start, expectations may have been too high for Karabag, and they will need to regroup going forward.

25. Eintracht Frankfurt (–)

After their 3-0 defeat to Atalanta, Frankfurt’s chances for playoff advancement are slim, with tough matches against Barcelona, Qarabag, and Tottenham on the horizon.

26. Athletic Club (+1)

With a 1-3-1 record to start the season, Athletic Club is struggling, but they could turn things around in upcoming difficult matches against PSG, Atalanta, and Sporting CP.

27. Union Saint-Gilloise (-1)

After a recent victory over Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise holds onto hopes for further progress in the Champions League.

28. Villarreal (–)

While Villarreal remains in third place in their league, they have lost four out of five matches lately in Champions League play.

29. Benfica (–)

Jose Mourinho’s future may hinge on Benfica’s performance against Napoli this week, with additional tough matches on the horizon.

30. Paphos (–)

Paphos has surprised many with their first Champions League victory against Villarreal and will face Juventus next, a significant challenge.

31. Slavia Prague (–)

While not expected to compete at the same level as others, Slavia Prague may still pull off some surprises.

32. Olympiakos (–)

Olympiakos has struggled in the Champions League, with no wins from five matches and is in desperate need of improvement.

33. Copenhagen (–)

After a rocky tournament, Copenhagen’s hopes are dashed with losses to multiple teams, leaving them with little chance for advancement.

34. Bodo/Glimt (–)

Despite being competitive in their domestic league, Bodo/Glimt have struggled in the Champions League, falling short of expectations.

35. Kairat (–)

Kairat’s participation in the Champions League is a historic achievement for the club, but they are not expected to progress further.

36. Ajax (–)

With a dismal goal differential of 1 scored and 16 conceded, Ajax sits last with zero points, raising doubts about their future prospects this season.