The busiest opening to a season of top-level European club football has finally come to a close.
The busiest mid-season period of international football will soon be upon us.
We haven’t got much time, people. The World Cup is nearly here. Get detoxing, get in your last fill of club football takes while you can, point out the irony of Cristiano Ronaldo not realising that he’s part of the reason why Manchester United have been going backwards.
Harry Symeou hosts Scott Saunders, Grizz Khan & Jack Gallagher to look back on France ’98 as part of the ‘Our World Cup’ series. We take a trip down memory lane – join us!
Here are 90min’s definitive European power rankings, refreshed and rejigged heading into the winter break.
Despite Erling Haaland scoring approximately 137 goals this season, Manchester City head into the break five points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s men recently scraped past Fulham before being taught a footballing lesson by Brentford. They have work to do.
While slipping to second place in their Champions League group is a blot on Christophe Galtier’s PSG record, he goes into the World Cup still undefeated as their manager.
He’ll be bitterly disappointed if none of his star trio return as a world champion.
‘Down 2’ is a rather harsh assessment of Benfica’s season so far considering they’ve won seven on the spin, remain unbeaten and pipped PSG to top spot in their Champions League group.
Apologies for the misleading label, lads. You’re doing great.
Despite a rocky start, Milan have recovered and will be in pretty good shape once Serie A resumes.
Stefano Pioli’s charges are second in the standings (though are eight points off of top spot) and will play in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2014 come February.
Whoops.
Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 by Rayo Vallecano – by all accounts the antithesis of the Spanish capital’s behemoths – last week to ensure that Los Blancos won’t be top of La Liga come Christmas.
They’re lucky that they’re a real ‘business end of the season’ team.
Taking Real Madrid’s spot…
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