WCR Top 25 - May 9, 2023

World Club Rankings - Top 25 - May 9, 2023

It was another big week in world football last week, as they all are at this time of year.  Among the headlines were Napoli clinching it’s first Scudetta in 33 years, and Real Madrid winning its first Copa del Rey in nine years, becoming the fifth different club to win the title in the past five years.  Of course, the big upcoming event is the European cup semifinals for twelve clubs, including five from Italy.

The WCR Top Ten changed a bit this week, with Liverpool and Arsenal both jumping past Barcelona.  Two other English clubs, however, fell out of the Top Ten after Manchester United and Newcastle United combined for three losses over the past week and found themselves replaced in the top tier of the rankings by Internazionale and Borussia Dortmund.

Falling out of the rankings after rough weeks were Ajax and AS Roma.  Ajax was replaced by compatriots Feyenoord, who are in line to clinch the Eredivisie title over the coming weekend.  Our other returnee to the WCR Top 25 is Palmeiras, who brings South America back into our ranks and gives us representatives from eight countries in the rankings once again.

As a note, all of our Top Ten clubs now have links below to extended highlights or condensed games of their matches from last week, so enjoy catching up on anything you missed!

All of the rankings are below.  If you don’t like the list, please feel free to check out our methodology page, which includes links to all of the source data we are using. 

1.  Manchester City (Eng) (125 pts) (5 first place votes) (LW 1) - Manchester City continued to roll this week, scoring a 3-0 victory over West Ham on Wednesday and then holding on to top Leeds United by a 2-1 score.  Both of those matches were at home.  City’s two matches this week are away.  On Tuesday, they will visit the Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid in the first leg of a highly anticipated Champions League tie.  In a match that is somewhat less highly anticipated, City will pay a visit to Everton on Sunday as it inches closer to securing another Premier League title.

2.  Bayern Munich (Ger) (119 pts) (LW 2) - It looked like it would be easy, but the boys from Bremen put up a fight at the end of the night.  Either way, Bayern defeated Werder Bremen 2-1 to maintain its lead at the top of the tight Bundesliga table.  A tough match against Leipzig is on the horizon, but we’re not there yet.  First up will be a match on Saturday in which Bayern will host Schalke o4.

3.  Real Madrid (Esp) (112 pts) (LW 3) -It was a weekend of mixed results for Real Madrid, though they ultimately got the win that mattered.  Losing 0-2 at Real Sociedad in midweek caused Real Madrid to drop down to third place in La Liga’s Primera Divisíon.  More importantly, however, they were able to outlast Osasuna by a 2-1 score to win the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2014.  This week, Los Blancos have two matches again, and like last week, one is much more important than the other.  Tonight, they will host top-ranked Manchester City in the first leg of the UCL semifinals.  Between the legs, Real Madrid will stay at home to host Getafe on Sunday.

4. Liverpool (Eng) (105 pts) (LW 5) -It wasn’t the most impressive week for Liverpool, but they did what they had to do, scoring a pair of 1-0 wins at home, first over Fulham in midweek, and then another over Brentford on Saturday.  That makes six victories in a row for the Reds, who are still holding out home for a Champions League spot, though a Europa League spot looks more likely at the moment, unless there are additional slip ups from Newcastle United and/or Manchester United.  As for Liverpool, they will face Leicester City next Monday night in a battle against a club desperate for wins to avoid relegation.

5.  Arsenal (Eng) (104 points) (LW 7) - Well, good on Arsenal for not giving up after their loss to Man City.  This week, they beat two ranked opponents, beating Chelsea 3-1, as expected in midweek, and then topping Newcastle United 2-0 at St. James’ Park, in what was a tiny bit of a surprise.  It’s still hard to picture City slipping enough to let the Gunners take over the top spot in the Premier League, but the Gunners are doing what they have to do.  Arsenal’s gauntlet of ranked opponents continues and ends this Sunday when they host Brighton in what is a must-win match for both clubs.

6.  Barcelona (Esp) (102 points) (LW 4) - Osasuna was at ten men from nearly the opening whistle and it still took Barça until the 85th minute to score a goal.  The important point is, however, that they scored a goal and won the match 1-0.  This leads us to a derby on Sunday night against Espanyol.  Barcelona can clinch the La Liga title with a victory in that match with four games to spare.

7.  Napoli (Ita) (99 pts) (LW 6) - It was a tad delayed, but Napoli became the first major league champion of the season after drawing 1-1 at Empoli on Thursday, clinching their first Serie A title since the 1989-90 season, and their first ever without Diego Maradona.  Then, on Sunday, they were able to celebrate at home with their fans with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina.  That sets them up for this Sunday’s match at mid-table Monza in a match that means very little for either club.  Such is the end of the season when you win the league so quickly, I guess.  For their fans, it’s more than worth it.

8. Atletico Madrid (Esp) (84 pts) (LW 10) - Atlético made short shrift of Cadíz this week, scoring five goals in their second consecutive match in their 5-1 victory, which moved them into second place in La Liga’s Primera Divisíon.  They will try to make it three in a row on Sunday when they face the division’s twentieth-place club, Elché.

9.  Inter Milan (Ita) (83 pts) (LW 11) - Inter Milan returns to the WCR Top Ten for the first time in quite a while after a week with two big away victories saw it push into fourth place in the Italian Serie A.  Inter first dismantled Hellas Verona 6-0 at midweek and then, in what was effectively UCL Playoff Weekend in the Serie A, beat Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, effectively putting them in control of their destiny.  Of course, the Nerazzurri can also qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning this year’s version.  The next step in that quest takes place against neighbors AC Milan on Wednesday night in what is technically an “away” match for Inter.  In domestic league play, Inter returns to action Saturday night at home against Sassuolo.

10.  Borussia Dortmund (Ger) (73 pts) (LW 12) - Dortmund faced a club that many thought could provide a tough test this week, but they completely dominated Wolfsburg in a 6-0 victory that allowed the second place club in the German Bundesliga to keep pace with Bayern Munich, who are two points ahead of Die Schwarzgelben.  Dortmund’s next test will be on Saturday in a Borussen derby against Mönchengladbach.

11.  Newcastle United (Eng) (65 pts) (LW 9)

12.  Paris St. Germain (Fra) (64 pts) (LW 13)

13.  Manchester United (Eng) (60 pts) (LW 10)

14.  RB Leipzig (Ger) (54 pts) (LW 17)

15.  AC Milan (Ita) (51 pts) (LW 14)

16.  Porto (Por) (50 pts) (LW 15)

17.  Benfica (Por) (49 pts) (LW 16)

18.  Juventus (Ita) (45 pts) (LW 19)

19.  Brighton (Eng) (31 pts) (LW 20)

20. Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) (25 pts) (LW 18)

21.  Chelsea (Eng) (21 pts) (LW 21)

22.  Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) (15 pts) (LW 24)

23.  Palmeiras (Bra) (15 pts) (LW NR)

24.  Aston Villa (Eng) (13 pts) (LW 23)

25.  Feyenoord (Ned) (9 pts) (LW NR)

Also receiving points:  Real Sociedad (Esp) (8), Sporting CP (Por) (8), Roma (Ita) (6),  Celtic (Sco) (6), RB Salzburg (Aut) (6), Sevilla (Esp) (5), PSV Eindhoven (Ned) (5), Ajax (Ned) (4), Lazio (Ita) (4), Lille (Fra) (3), Zenit St. Petersburg (Rus) (2), Brentford (Eng) (1).