Matthias Sammer, Bayern Munich sporting director, and influential midfielder Xabi Alonso discuss the resumption of the Bundesliga season after the winter break.
The German season is set to resume, which means defending Bundesliga champions and Power Rankings leaders Bayern Munich will return to competitive action.
1. Bayern Munich (no change)
By now you know the drill: Bayern haven’t played but stay top by virtue of no other side having done enough to usurp them. But, wait, the Bundesliga resumes this weekend and, furthermore, the runaway leaders face a tough test away at Wolfsburg. Are Pep Guardiola’s side in for a surprise?
2. Real Madrid (no change)
The Spanish leaders stay closest to the German champions but only just. Last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Cordoba was a rough and tough affair, which saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men come from behind to win. The task was made even tougher by Cristiano Ronaldo, who lost his temper and was shown a red card, meaning he will miss Madrid’s next two games.
3. Juventus (+1)
The Old Lady maintained their pursuit of three trophies with a Paul Pogba-inspired display — have I mentioned he’s really good? Yes? Well, I’m not the only one who thinks so! — vs. Chievo followed by a 1-0 win at Parma in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals that came courtesy of a late, late Alvaro Morata winner.
Paul Pogba’s inspired recent form has helped Juventus compete on multiple fronts.
4. Barcelona (+1)
Luis Enrique’s men extended their winning run to a magnificent seven with a pair of wins this week. First, Lionel Messi and Neymar stole the show with two goals apiece vs. Elche before the latter man added another brace in a feisty Copa del Rey win at Atletico Madrid that secured a last four spot. After well-documented problems, all now appears to be well in Catalonia.
5. Atletico Madrid (+1)
Down 4-2 on aggregate and having been reduced to 10 men, Diego Simeone effectively decided to accept defeat in the second half vs. Barca. It may go against the Argentine’s incessant will to win, but in the long term, it could benefit Atletico that they have one less competition on which to focus.
6. Chelsea (-3)
What on earth happened against Bradford? Of all the teams that you’d think might give up a 2-0 lead — at home — vs. lower-league opposition, surely Chelsea would be at the bottom of the list. Normal service was resumed in a bad-tempered Capital One Cup semifinal win over Liverpool but the almost-certain absence of Diego Costa could hurt them vs. Man City on Saturday.
7. Lyon (no change)
The Ligue 1 leaders’ win over Metz came at a cost as leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette suffered an injury that will keep him out for several weeks. And what a time for him to be missing: Lyon visit in-form Monaco on Sunday and then host Paris Saint-Germain a week later. Can they pass their biggest tests so far?
8. Paris Saint-Germain (new)
It wasn’t pretty but PSG’s 1-0 win at St Etienne — just the second in their past five league games — kept the pressure on Lyon as the two sides’ showdown draws closer. But will Zlatan Ibrahimovic be available for the upcoming games? It’s not certain, with the Swedish talisman facing a suspension for a poor challenge on Romain Hamouma last weekend.
9. Valencia (new)
Since losing to Barcelona on Nov. 30, Valencia have won five and drawn two of their past seven league games, the most recent a 3-1 win over Sevilla, which saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side leapfrog their Andalusian rivals into fourth place in La Liga. Tricky trips to Malaga and Espanyol are next.
10. PSV Eindhoven (new)
The Dutch leaders return to my Top 10 after starting their post-winter break Eredivisie schedule the way they ended the first half of the campaign: winning. PSV have won five straight and 11 of their 12 to open up a six-point advantage over Ajax at the top of the standings. Forwards Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong have score 21 league goals combined this season.
Dropping out: Benfica, Southampton, Roma