The Footy Power Rankings - October 24: Bayern leapfrogs Barcelona and Chelsea

Every Friday, we'll attempt to organize the beautiful, chaotic world that is European football. Taking into consideration both domestic and continental form, strength of schedule and underlying statistics, we'll try to figure out which teams can rightfully claim to be Europe's very best. You'll disagree with most of it, of course, but that's part of the fun.

Note: The totals for goals scored and against include both league and European competitions

1. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 3rd

Remember last week when I said something wasn't quite right with Bayern Munich? In news that should come as little surprise, I was very, very wrong. 

Since that time, all they've done is score 13 goals in two matches, en route to six of the easiest points ever won.

A 6-0 beat down of Werder Bremen was topped by one of the most remarkable European matches in recent memory, as the German machine rolled into Rome and humiliated one of the best teams on the continent by scoring a touchdown - and adding the extra point.

When one of the world's foremost tactical experts can't discern your chosen formation, you've already won. Pep Guardiola is that friend who takes a brilliant team in FIFA 15 and changes the default formation to something ridiculous so that it includes all of the best attacking players. He played with three traditional fullbacks on Tuesday against Roma. None of them played fullback. 

The Spaniard is a mad scientist disguised in a great suit, and his creation is destroying everything in its path at the moment.

2. Chelsea (1st in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 1st

The Blues fall off the top of the mountain by no fault of their own, having won both of their matches this past week and outscoring opponents 7-1 in the process. Sometimes, though, you just have to bow down when you see greatness elsewhere.

While a 6-0 win over Maribor is impressive, it simply isn't in the same stratosphere as Bayern's annihilation of Roma. But that's not to say Chelsea is not capable of a similar result. They are.

This team is obviously better than it was last season. On the surface, one would think that has to do with the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Loic Remy, and Filipe Luis arriving at Stamford Bridge and Eden Hazard continuing his development into one of the world's very best - Exhibit A: wow.

But manager Jose Mourinho, speaking after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, has another theory as to why his side is much improved.

Never change, Jose.

3. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 2nd

Modest wins over Eibar (3-0) and Ajax (3-1) this past week did little to move the needle in either direction for the Catalan giants. But that could be about to change, as the script is setting up perfectly for both Lionel Messi and the club to make a big statement in the coming days.

With his tally versus Eibar, Messi continues his assault on the all-time La Liga scoring record, now just one shy of equalling Telmo Zarra's total of 251 goals.

(Courtesy: the Guardian)

What better place to accomplish the feat than at the home of his club's most hated rival, in the face of his greatest adversary? 

We will learn a lot about Luis Enrique's club on Saturday when they visit the Bernabeu in a Clasico that will feature the greatest collection of star power in one place since The Departed.

4. Real Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 4th

It says a lot about the upper echelon of European football that a team like this, boasting the world's best player and ripping through every defense in its path like a hot knife through butter, is only good enough for fourth at the moment.

Real Madrid, powered by the half-man, half-amazing Cristiano Ronaldo, put on a clinic in the first half of Wednesday's Champions League match against Liverpool.

All you can do is stand and applaud when you see things like this.

"The first goal broke them. They lost enthusiasm. Then in the second half we were saving a little bit of energy for Saturday," midfielder Luka Modric said after the 3-0 victory at Anfield, referring to this weekend's El Clasico.

That could be seen as a massive indictment on Liverpool, but instead, we'll look at it as a sign that Real Madrid is just unfairly talented. 

Saturday is going to be so much fun.

5. Manchester City (2nd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 5th

Things change quickly in football. Thanks to Manchester City this past week, we got to see a first-hand example of that.

Until the final 25 minutes of Tuesday's match against CSKA Moscow, the Citizens were rolling. Four goals against Tottenham in EPL action, Sergio Aguero eliciting talk of the Ballon d'Or and the team's inability to win important matches in the Champions League looking like a thing of the past.

And then it all came apart.

Late goals from Seydou Doumbia and Bibras Natkho (a very dubious penalty) saw City drop two big points inside an empty Arena Khimki, a result which now throws their qualification for the knockout stages into serious jeopardy.

It looks increasingly likely that it's all going to hinge on their final match of the group stage, at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma on Dec. 10. Not ideal.

Figure it out, Manuel Pellegrini. This team is too talented to be having these problems.

6. Atletico Madrid (5th in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 7th

It's starting to come together for Diego Simeone.

The defending Spanish champions have rebounded nicely from a surprising loss to Valencia earlier in the month, scoring seven goals and conceding none in consecutive wins over Espanyol (2-0) and Malmo (5-0).

Antoine Griezmann and Alessio Cerci, two new signings who have largely failed to impress this season, found the net in the Champions League win on Wednesday and are finally settling into their new surroundings.

Meanwhile, Koke is quickly becoming one of the most prolific playmakers on the continent. The young Spaniard has crafted nine assists on the campaign thus far in just 11 matches, and his ability to pick the killer pass is a joy to watch. His 4.7 key passes per match leads everyone in the Champions League, while his mark of 2.8 per match in La Liga is second only to some tiny Argentine playing for Barcelona.

It was always going to take some time given the hefty turnover during the summer, but Atletico are finally beginning to look like the team that conquered Spain in 2013.

7. Marseille (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 9th

You can't stop Andre-Pierre Gignac, you can only hope to contain him.

With 10 goals in as many matches, you could say the burly French striker is on fire this season. The same was said about manager Marcelo Bielsa's backside during the 2-0 win over Toulouse on Sunday.

That is all.

8. Paris Saint-Germain (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 10th

Edinson Cavani scored in back-to-back matches this week, including the all-important late winner in Tuesday's dour 1-0 victory over Cypriot giants - and European minnows - APOEL. If you're searching for other positives to come out of the French capital in the last seven days, you can stop now.

Laurent Blanc's men looked slow, bereft of ideas in the attacking third and far from the team that hit three goals past an otherwise unblemished Barcelona defense earlier in the year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still recovering from a heel injury, and while his absence would leave a massive hole in almost any squad, you wouldn't expect such a talented group to struggle so mightily against clearly inferior opponents.

Hurry back, Zlatan. You're desperately needed.

9. Juventus (1st in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 6th

The Old Lady needs to see a doctor, because she's looking a little pale of late.

With just one win in four matches - a stretch that has seen the club score just four goals and concede five - questions are starting to be asked of Massimiliano Allegri for the first time since he assumed his new job.

A 1-1 draw to Serie A bottom feeders Sassuolo on Saturday was followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Olympiacos, which leaves Juventus in a precarious position in Group A of the Champions League. When Fulham flop Kostas Mitroglou plays an important role in bringing your club to defeat, you've hit rock bottom.

Off the pitch, however, it's been a wonderful week for the Bianconeri. Midfield star Paul Pogba signed a contract extension that ties him to the club until 2019, while the man many Juventus supporters blame for the infamous Calciopoli scandal is no longer involved in the Italian game - Massimo Moratti stepped down as honorary president of Inter Milan on Thursday.

Small victories. Take them when you can.

10. Roma (2nd in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 8th

Roma is putting the pieces in place to be very good for a very long time, but on Tuesday in front of a jam-packed Stadio Olimpico, Rudi Garcia and company were given a stern reminder that there is a seismic gulf in quality between the very best in the world, and everyone else.

The midfield trio of Daniele De Rossi, Miralem Pjanic, and Radja Nainggolan has been one of the best in the world this season. They were run over and then stomped into the ground by a Bayern group that was missing Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez, and Thiago Alcantara.

"Unfortunately just one of those days... It happens on the way to glory," Roma president James Pallotta said in a statement after the loss.

Judging by the fans' reaction immediately after the final whistle, they intend to stand behind their heroes for the duration of that journey.

11. Southampton (3rd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 12th

Goals, and plenty of them, was the theme of the past week across Europe. Bayern Munich hit seven in the aforementioned contest with Roma. Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid each netted five in a match.

All the while, Southampton was watching on, unimpressed:

The Saints obliterated Sunderland over the weekend, dropping an eight-spot on Gus Poyet's men and forcing goalkeeper Vito Mannone to offer a refund to Sunderland supporters who made the trip and paid for a ticket to the match.

Even Andrea Pirlo would be impressed by that.

12. Valencia (4th in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 11th

Things were looking very good for Los Che heading into their match with Deportivo this past Sunday. Unbeaten in league play and coming off a wonderful 3-1 win over defending champions Atletico, the club was expected to walk all over a Deportivo side that had lost four straight games and found itself sitting at the bottom of the table.

You know where this is going. 

Manager Nuno dismissed the stunning 3-0 loss as just a bad day. That's probably fair. It happens to the best of teams. But a couple more of those, and they'll be a distant memory on this list.

Hopefully the impending return of marquee summer signing Alvaro Negredo will help to ensure that doesn't happen.

13. Borussia Dortmund (14th in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 15th

This team is weird, man.

A 2-1 loss to FC Koln on the weekend was the club's fourth defeat in its last five Bundesliga matches, prompting a perplexed - and by this point annoyed - Jurgen Klopp to question his side's acumen.

"We played a kind of football which is absolutely pointless," Klopp said after the contest.

They then proceeded to go into the Turk Telekom Arena, one of Europe's more intimidating venues, and thrash Galatasaray 4-0 on Wednesday in Champions League action - a result which sees the German side maintain their perfect start in Group D.

Things are turning around, perhaps? Ilkay Gundogan is finally back after a 14-month absence and Marco Reus is still scary good.

(Courtesy: Reddit)

Even the team's dreadful injury luck looks to be on the up-and-up, as initial fears that Sven Bender suffered a dislocated elbow on Wednesday have been allayed.

14. Manchester United (6th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 13th

I desperately want to like Manchester United, for no other reason than the fact that watching Angel Di Maria dominate every single week brings me great joy. But that defense, yuck. 

Moses himself would have been proud of the way the Red Devils' back line opened up in the 2-2 draw against West Brom on Monday, allowing Saido Berahino to waltz through on goal. The aerial view looked something like this:

Louis van Gaal, in an accent that is matched only by Goldmember, told reporters after the match that United can still win the title. Watching Di Maria do things that most humans cannot must be making him hallucinate.

15. Arsenal (7th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 14th

Arsene Wenger is (probably) a Monopoly master.

After Danny Welbeck's injury time goal salvaged a point for the Gunners against Hull City on the weekend, the Frenchman stepped his game up on Wednesday and played another, more impressive Get Out of Jail Free card.

Trailing 1-0 and on the verge of a surprising Champions League defeat to Anderlecht, Kieran Gibbs levelled the match in the 89th minute with a side-footed volley, before social media director striker Lukas Podolski smashed home the winner 120 seconds later. The German has spent more time updating his Twitter account than he has playing actual football this season (just 57 minutes), but is now on the books with the club's most important goal of the campaign.

Free parking, Mr. Wenger. Collect $500.

On the cusp

Liverpool, Sevilla, FC Porto, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven