http://cmonyuirons.com/2008/09/working-world-club-rankings-theres-a-new-number-1-chelsea-man-utd-liverpool-arsenal-everton-real-madrid-roma/WCR Top 25 Clubs in the World - New Number One Edition
We still have two weeks to go until last season’s results are erased from the databases for English clubs (three weeks for some others), yet Manchester United has already managed to lose the advantage that it
carried into this season. With its loss to Liverpool, Manchester United has relinquished the title that it has held since early this year. Since we started this blog eleven months ago, only two clubs have reached the pinnacle, Inter Milan and Manchester United.
This week, we welcome a third as Chelsea takes over the top spot. As a note to Liverpool fans, Liverpool did not improve this week because it finished a distant fourth place last year and those results will still be used over the next few weeks. Provided Liverpool maintains form over the next few weeks, I foresee it rising to or near the top of the rankings at that time.
A few domestic leagues did reach the point in their seasons where last season’s results have been eliminated. Most notably, those nations include France and Scotland.
The results of this change are reflected in the Top 25, where Marseille replaces Bordeaux and Rangers replace Scotland. As mention in recent past rankings, as last season’s results are dropped, the Top 25 will become much more fluid and that is reflected in this week’s chart, where we have five clubs that were not around last week.
Another reason for changes this week is that clubs near the bottom of the rankings did their best to forfeit their spots. Boca Juniors managed only a draw against Independiente, Bordeaux, a draw against Marseille, and AC Milan and Atletico de Madrid both fell this weekend. All of these clubs have been removed from the rankings for this week, if only temporarily. We’ll see how the numbers work out in future weeks.
Rankings, shmakings. The big news this week, of course, is the beginning of the UEFA Champions League group stage. This will provide us with six great matchweeks full of great matches, beginning this week, where we will see clubs like Manchester United and Villarreal face off.
Matches involving multiple Top 25 clubs are highlighted below. Even when those are over, however, it’s still not over as Manchester United, fresh off of its trip to Liverpool, goes to London to take on Chelsea over the weekend. Also, in the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich will face off on Saturday.
Great clubs, great matches. I love this time of year!!! Below is the current Top 25.
WCR Top 25 Clubs in the World – September 15, 20081.
Chelsea (Eng) (4) – Chelsea becomes the third club to top the WCR Top 25 by virtue of Manchester United’s loss and Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat of the other club from Manchester. Robinho scored early, but Chelsea scored often. In Champions League action, Chelsea will host Bordeaux, but the more important match for Chelsea will be on Sunday, when Chelsea faces the club they displaced at the top of the rankings.
2. Inter Milan (Ita) (2) – Just below Jose Mourinho’s former club is Jose Mourinho, himself. Inter won its first Serie A match this week, defeating Catania 2-1. Internazionale has two away matches this week, against Panathinaikos in Champions League action and Torino in domestic play.
3. Real Madrid (Esp) (3) – It wasn’t easy, and for a while it looked like another upset, but Real Madrid held on to defeat Numancia 4-3 in Primera Division play. Real Madrid will host BATE Barisov on Wednesday in Champions League action and play Racing Santander in La Liga this weekend.
4.
Manchester United (Eng) (1) – Liverpool knocked United off its perch with a 2-1 victory over the defending champions. United is at risk of falling even further when it travels to London to take on Chelsea. Before that, however, Manchester United has to host Villarreal in Champions League play and the way the Reds have been playing recently, it’s definitely not a given that they will win.
5. Bayern Munich (Ger) (5) – Bayern was dominant this weekend, defeating Cologne 3-0. Bayern returns to the Champions League this week when it takes on Steaua Bucuresti. Its more difficult match, likely, will be in the Bundesliga on Saturday, when Bayern will host Werder Bremen.
6.
Arsenal (Eng) (7) – Arsenal moved up a little bit after defeating Blackburn Rovers 4-0 this weekend and could move up even more if they can take advantage of the fall of Manchester United. Arsenal goes out to Ukraine for a Champions League matchup against Dynamo Kyiv and head to Bolton to take on the Wanderers this weekend.
7. Roma (Ita) (6) – Roma’s Serie A season is not shaping up as it had hoped, falling this week 1-3 to Palermo. Although it is taking advantage of last season’s results, it will need to turn things around quickly or it will not be long for this chart. Roma will host CFR Cluj in Champions League action this week before hosting Reggina in domestic action this weekend.
8. Lyon (Fra) (10) – No longer surviving on last season’s results, Lyon doesn’t have to with its 3-2 victory over Nice placing Lyon in its familiar spot atop the Ligue Un standings. In a very interesting Champions League match, Lyon hosts Fiorentina. In domestic action, OL will take on Le Havre.
9. Gremio (Bra) (
– Unlike most European leagues, the Brasileiro Serie A season is mature – over halfway complete. Gremio jumped out to a quick lead, but that lead has been shrinking and shrank some more this weekend as Gremio fell 1-2 to Goias. As Gremio attempts to hang on, Gremio will take on Atletico Parananense this weekend.
10. PSV Eindhoven (Ned) (9) – With a 1-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam this weekend, PSV hangs on to a Top Ten spot. In an intriguing matchup on Tuesday, PSV will host Atletico de Madrid in Champions League action. Domestically, PSV will take on AZ Alkmaar this weekend.
11. Porto (Por) (9) – Porto has had a few weeks off now, and it’s time for them to get back to work. First up? Last season’s surprise club, Fenerbahce. This weekend, Porto returns to bwin Superliga action against Rio Ave.
12. Juventus (Ita) (12) – Juventus was able to defeat Udinese 1-0 in Serie A action this weekend. It’s match against Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday promises to be one of the most interesting of Matchday One in the Champions League. Juventus will play Cagliari this weekend in Serie A.
13. Villarreal (Esp) (13) – Villarreal was able to put one in the victory column this weekend with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna. Villarreal comes to the isles this week to take on slumping Manchester United in Champions League play. In La Liga’s Primera Division, Villarreal will be next on the agenda for Numancia, who is coming off of matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Welcome to the Primera Division, Numancia!!!
14.
Liverpool (Eng) (14) – Don’t get upset, this is only temporary. Once last season’s data is removed in two weeks, Liverpool should shoot up. For now, Liverpool can celebrate knocking Manchester United with its 2-1 victory, even if it does mean that it is responsible for placing Chelsea in the top spot. Liverpool crosses the Channel this week to take on Marseille in the Champions League. Domestically, Liverpool will host Stoke City over the weekend.
15. Marseille (Fra) (NR) – The first club in this week’s Top 25 to benefit from losing last season’s data is Marseille, which debuts in the Top 25 despite drawing 1-1 with Bordeaux this weekend. As I stated in the paragraph above, Marseille will host Liverpool in the Champions League. In Ligue Un, Marseille will host AS Monaco on Sunday.
16. Schalke 04 (Ger) – Schalke lost its top spot in the Bundesliga this weekend when it couldn’t hold on to its 3-0 lead against Borussia Dortmund and had to settle for a 3-3 draw. Schalke, is the highest currently ranked club in the UEFA Cup and it will enter that tournament playing APOEL Nicosia on Thursday. This weekend, Schalke will host Eintracht Frankfurt in Bundesliga action.
17. Barcelona (Esp) (15) – Barcelona remains without a victory in the Primera Division after managing only a 1-1 draw with Racing Santander. On Tuesday, Barcelona will host Sporting CP in the Champions League and it will try to bounce back in La Liga against Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
18. Ajax (Ned) (17) – Ajax bounced back in the Eredivisie with a 1-0 victory over Roda JC this weekend. Ajax probably should be in the Champions League, but it’s not, so it will face Borac Cacak in UEFA Cup competition on Thursday. Domestically, Ajax will face Feyenoord in a classic Dutch matchup.
19. Werder Bremen (Ger) (19)– As Bremen gears up for the Champions League, it defeated Energie Cottbus handily, as it should, 3-0. Bremen will host surprising Cypriot participant Anorthosis Famagusta in a Champions League match on Tuesday. The competition will pick up on Saturday when Bremen travels to Munich to take on Bayern in Bundesliga action.
20. Rangers (Sco) (NR) – It’s true that Rangers already has been eliminated from European action, but Rangers returns to the rankings by virtue of being on top of the SPL after this weekend’s victory. With no match to focus on in midweek, Rangers can concentrate on defeating Motherwell on Sunday.
21. Sevilla (Esp) (NR) – Sevilla is off to a good start and returns to the Top 25 this week. Sevilla will take place in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, hosting FC Salzburg. In trying to continue its solid Primera Division start, Sevilla will take on Real Betis on Sunday.
22. Pumas UNAM (Mex) (NR) – With a 2-0 victory over Tigres, Pumas moves to the top of the Mexican Primera division and makes its debut in the WCR Top 25 this week. The move is timely, as well, as it allows me to highlight the fact that the two best clubs in Mexico in the current season will face off on Sunday when Pumas hosts San Luis.
23. Fiorentina (Ita) (22) – Fiorentina is off to a disappointing start in the Serie A season, losing this weekend 1-2 to Napoli. Fiorentina heads north to take on Lyon on Wednesday in Champions League play. On Sunday, Fiorentina will host Bologna in domestic action.
24. Palmeiras (Bra) (21) – With a 1-0 victory over Cruzeiro this weekend, Palmeiras firmly is in second place in the Brasileiro Serie A and only three points behind leading Gremio. Palmeiras will host Vasco da Gama twice this week, on Thursday in the Copa Sudamerican and on Sunday in domestic league play.
25.
Everton (Eng) (NR) – Everton is here more by default than any other reason, but with a victory this weekend, they slide ahead of clubs like AC Milan and Atletico de Madrid. Everton will host Standard Liege in this week’s UEFA Cup match and will play Hull City in what promises to be an interesting early-season matchup.
Bubbling Under (alphabetically): Boca Juniors (Arg), Cruzeiro (Bra), Hamburger (Ger), Heerenveen (Ned), Milan (Ita).
________________________
________________________
___________
Everton is also on the List?
