SBI European Club Top 10

The Champions League group stage is here and you know what that means. It's time for the latest installment of the SBI European Top 10.

I know the first edition was a bit rough but I think I worked out the kinks with the latest installment. Obviously there are going to be differences of opinion. Some of you respect the EPL more while some others give Serie A or La Liga more of a preference when it comes to ranking.

I think I struck a good balance between all of Europe's top leagues and will try to do so throughout the year. If nothing else, it should give you all plenty to discuss and to debate.

I also added to the Top 10 by including each team's results from the previous week as well as their matches for the upcoming week. Good info to help you plan your soccer viewing. Enjoy.

SBI EUROPEAN CLUB TOP 10

1. REAL MADRID (3-0 in league play). Last week: Beat Almeria, 3-1. This week: vs. Werder Bremen (UCL-Tuesday), at Valladolid (Sunday).

2. LIVERPOOL (3-0-2). Last week: Tied Portsmouth, 0-0. This week: at FC Porto (UCL-Tuesday), vs. Birmingham (Saturday).

3. AC MILAN (1-0-2). Last week: Tied Siena, 1-1. This week: vs. Benfica (UCL-Tuesday), at Parma (Saturday).

4. ROMA (3-0). Last week: Defeated Reggina, 2-0. This week: vs. Dynamo Kiev (UCL-Wednesday), vs. Juventus (Sunday).

5. ARSENAL (4-0-1). Last week: Defeated Tottenham, 3-1. This week: vs. Sevilla (UCL-Wednesday), vs. Derby (Saturday).

6. SEVILLA (2-0). Last week: Defeated Recreativo Huelva, 4-1. This week: at Arsenal (UCL-Wednesday), at Barcelona (Saturday).

7. BARCELONA (1-0-2). Last week: Tied Osasuna, 0-0. This week: vs. Lyon (UCL-Wednesday), vs. Sevilla (Saturday).

8. INTER MILAN (2-0-1). Last week: Defeated Catania, 2-0. This week: at Fenerbahce (UCL-Wednesday), at Livorno (Sunday).

9. BAYERN MUNICH (4-0-2). Last week: Tied Schalke 04, 1-1. This week: at Belenenses (UEFA-Thursday), at Karlsruhe (Sunday).

10. PSV EINDHOVEN (3-0-1). Last week: Defeated Vitesse Arnhem, 1-0. This week: vs. CSKA Moscow (UCL-Wednesday), vs. Feyenoord (Sunday).

HONORABLE MENTION: Manchester United, Juventus, Manchester City, Lyon, Chelsea, Feyenoord, FC Porto, Valencia,

UCL-UEFA Champions League, UEFA- UEFA Cup

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I know some big squads suffered disappointing results but many of those teams were resting stars ahead of this week's Champions League action. Liverpool and AC Milan both rested top stars so you can't kill them too much for their draws

Juventus was the big loser. I had them ranked too high and then they lose to Udinese. They fall out of the Top 10, as did Chelsea, which tied Blackburn (albeit in controversial fashion). Chelsea can make a return to the Top 10 with a good week.

Bayern Munich cracks the Top 10, though there is no guarantee it stays. To be fair, injuries are ravaging the club, which I took into consideration.

The other newcomer to the Top 10 is PSV, which has yet to allow a goal in Dutch League play after four matches. They face first-place Feyenoord with the winner assured of a place in the SBI Top 10.

Man U and Lyon are on the rise while Manchester City looks like a nice squad that could make some surprising noise this year.

What do you think of this week's rankings? How about some of this week's better match-ups? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[MemRook]

It really does look like Real Madrid is the "real" thing. That Wesley Sneijder guy is pretty good, huh? It really is hard to think of a team that is playing better than they are right now. I have to concur 100% with your top choice. List looks pretty fair to me, but I don't know much about Serie A, Eredivisie or the Bundesliga. I only have decent knowledge of the EPL and La Liga.

[YankatOxford]

PSV has looked excellent, and appear to have recovered their 2004/2005 form. Surprised no honorable mention at least for AS Nancy Lorraine in Lique 1. They have been on fire and are playing much better than Lyon. Watch out for Fortune and Kim.
I would have lobbied for an honorable mention for Gers, but they fell apart against an average Hearts side this weekend in SPL. I like their chances against Stuttgart tomorrow if Beasley plays well and Barry Ferguson is fit. This week will add much greater depth in material with the CL opening.
I fancy Sevilla's chances at Arsenal.
Also where is the love for top of the table Standard Liege? (kidding).

[tito]

Good list. The top 3 remain hard to separate - each is looking good. Barca seems inevitably over rated but it's hard to rate them much lower given their talent.
The inclusion of two German teams and the exclusion of sacred cows manu and chelsea are the cherry on top!

[daivd]

arsenal is above one of the two italian sides you put in. They won an away derby game and went top of the table with still one game in hand. add on the injuries which led to gilberto playing defense and they are eaisly a top 3 or 4 team. I actually think their match with Sevilla is the best match of the UCL starting week. OR at least it will definetly be the most appealling!

[Mig22]

Much as I don't like Arsenal, it's hard to argue that they are currently a top-3 side. Liverpool may be loaded with talent but they still underperform in their home league and thus are hard to take serious.

Barca probably overrated based on current form and their game vs. Sevilla should be revealing this weekend.

I would toss Roma above Milan at this point as they have looked flawless...against weak opposition admittedly. Roma-Juventus is a key fixture that will set the tone for the whole Serie-A season.

Good stuff, Ives.

[Dan]

Can't really argue over the list, though I would echo the sentiments about Barcelona being unimpressive, and Liverpool at #2.

Also, it's not really a big thing, but it might be helpful if you include the previous weeks ranking with the rest of the information you put up for each team.

[Collin]

Big week for Sevilla. It will be interesting to see how they fair.

[Steve W]

Ives! The Gooners should be ranked higher than 5th. They were superb against Tottenham and Roma beat lowly Reggina!

If you have the time, how about adding a European player of the week also?

Enjoying this piece, thanks!

[Michael]

Spot on Ives. You know what makes you a great writer, you think before you speak. You review your work and you're honest. always enjoy reading these fun tidbits.

[lawrenceterp]

Ives, where would you rank the best South American, Mexican and MLS teams if you were to put them up against that group? Does anyone crack the top 10 for you? Maybe Boca or Pachuca? Where would you put the highest MLS team? I'm guessing that would currently be DC United. Are they anywhere close to that list?

[eric]

Very curious to see how Rangers do in CL. SPL teams are so hard to judge with how weak most of the league is. I simultaneously hope that they were resting people in that loss, but Beas will still start in CL.

Also curious to see if any Portuguese teams make real noise...

[sean]

As a die-hard Arsenal supporter, I can't help but argue their ranking below Liverpool. Arsenal is missing three of their best defenders - Gallas, Eboue, Senderos - forcing them to plug in jet-lagged midfielder Gilberto Silva into the defense. And they still beat Tottenham 3-1, with so much style.

[Dominghosa]

OK, I leave my fate up to yous guys...
which CL match should I watch (that isn't showing on ESPN2 or ESPNDeportes), which is the best match?....
Marseille-Besiktas?
Chelsea-Rosenborg?
Schalke-Valenica?
Olympiacos-Lazio?
Milan-Benefica?
Shakhtar Donestk-Celtic?

[eric]

I'd watch Milan - Benefica or Shalke - Valencia if you want to watch the non-ESPN games.

But if you can watch Deportes, I think RM - WB is the most intriguing game for neutrals.

I'm disappointed that ESPN Classic isn't showing another game on delay after the live game. You rocking the uefa.com CL pass, Dominghosa?

[Dominghosa]

Thanks Eric. Appreciate the help. I'm recording the RM-WB game on ESPNDeportes.
As for watching other matches, nah, I'm cheap, so I watch games free when I can.
This is the site I go to, which I found when someone else posted it on SBI....

http://www.myp2p.eu/Weekdays.htm

You need to download programs called sopcast and/or TVU.
I watch soccer, NFL and baseball games from this site, too.

[Dominghosa]

I had an idea which match I was going to watch. I'll go with Milan-Benefica.
Maybe I can catch a glimpse of Freddy on the bench. If he ever makes it there, of course. Haha.

[eric]

btw, Freddy is NOT on the subs list for Benfica...

[Dominghosa]

of course not.

[Joe in ND]

Well done Ives. I enjoy this part of your blog the most and you actually provide good analysis.

As a Liverpool supporter they haven't done much to get knocked out of their spot at #2 but they also haven't done much to challenge/keep their position. If they play poorly against Porto and Birmingham City, I wouldn't be suprised to see them drop significantly in your rankings.

At least your not anti-Liverpool like a lot of other media figures.

[YankatOxford]

And Liverpool plays a cover your eyes game against Porto. Nice. Terrible. Chelsea too.
If Walter Smith plays 4-5-1 Beasley will start, as the Lee McCulloch is suspended.

[eric]

yeah, the Liverpool game was brutal. I was hoping that the early Porto goal would open it up, but after equalizing they returned to their 9-0-1 formation...

[Morpheus]

I love when fans of certain teams argue for their own teams to be ranked higher. You aren't exactly impartial folks so who would anyone take your complaints seriously? I'm sure Arsenal will be ranked higher if they win both games this week.

[papa bear]

why the seeming hesitancy to list Bayern Munich in the top 10? Fully healthy they are capable of beating any team in the top 10. They are a quality side and are performing very well so far this year. (and yes, they are going to win Champions league next year)

If anything, Milan is the disappointing one in there and should be knocked down a peg or 2.

You should be more hesitant to list ManU even in the honorable mentions. They have been awful this year, by ManU standards.

[Mig22]

Well, yesterday was revealing....L'pool was not great, Chelsea still struggling, Milan looked good, Valencia! got a big road win. And my CL fantasy team pretty much stunk it up. :(

The point about SPL teams being tough to handicap is spot on. Yesterday, Celtic was woeful....I hope Rangers do better today to keep an American in the CL as long as possible.

Cheers,

[Peter Bering]

Cross border club rankings are frankly rather meaningless, as the only real criteria are the international competitions themselves.