Inter Milan and Barcelona hold steady in the top two positions, but there is plenty of shuffling in the rest of the top 10. Atletico Madrid have dropped completely off the map, allowing AS Roma to launch themselves onto the list.
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#1 - Inter Milan
By now, they are almost machine-like in their consistency. If you get two, they'll get three. If they shut you out - as has happened in four of their last five league games - they will probably only bother to score once or twice. A slim home loss to Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League tie makes them a vulnerable #1, but they can hold onto it if they can get Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score from the run of play every so often. Fortunately for Roberto Mancini, Honduras forward David Suazo is heating up. This weekend, they host AS Roma with a chance to apply an early Scudetto dagger.
#2 - Barcelona
Great, just great. Lionel Messi says he's evolving into a new kind of player... as if everyone was so close to locking in on the type of player he's been. Perhaps it's for the best, because Messi recently snapped a three-month league goal drought. What's more, the Catalans must now visit wounded Atletico Madrid, protect a slim Champions League tie lead against feisty Celtic and welcome Villarreal in a nine-day span. The good news: Samuel Eto'o is back like he was never gone.
#3 - Manchester United
The Red Devils still trail Arsenal in England, and are locked in a Champions League wrestling match with ever-dangerous Lyon, but they are still the club most likely to take an opponent to the woodshed (just ask FA Cup toy Arsenal or recent double-tap victim Newcastle). Apart from a home derby defeat to City, Sir Alex essentially has his boys on cruise control since New Year's Day. They have the Prem's top defense and (usually) all guns blazing at the other end.
#4 - Arsenal
Back when Arsenal was #1, I wondered often if they could keep up the fearless point gathering. We now have the answer: every hot team cools down. The Gunners still lead in England, largely thanks to strike star Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togo ace had a seven-match goal streak halted this weekend; Arsenal has six wins and two draws since the run began on December 29th. If Arsene Wenger can get Robin van Persie fit and firing, they could eventually rise to the top of this list again. Next up? Warming Champions League chasers Aston Villa come to town this weekend.
#5 - Real Madrid
Including a home slip to Champions League foe Roma, Los Blancos have dropped four of their last five games. A once healthy league lead over Barcelona has withered to two points. It's not difficult to see the reason: seven of the eight goals scored in their last four games came in one game, the win over Valladolid. Real have no goals from the trio of Robinho, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder in February. Yep, the ship's course needs some correcting alright.
#6 - AS Roma
With Francesco Totti back in the saddle, the Giallorossi have maintained sight of Serie A leaders Inter, whom they will visit this weekend. He hasn't hit for many goals since returning, however, and now would be a good time to re-inhabit his scoring self with Mancini hobbled. If he doesn't, a slip off this list seems inevitable considering their upcoming schedule (the Champions League return against angry Real follows the Inter showdown).
#7 - Chelsea
The Blues have walked a tightrope since the calendar turned, mainly due to a short in the attack, yet have six wins and two draws in that time... talk about efficient. And yet, when was the last time you could say the combo of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard have been shut out for 10 weeks? You will be able to if they post a collective donut against London rivals Tottenham this weekend. Of course, Chelsea also owe revenge to Spurs for last week's Carling Cup final defeat. I wish I could say the picture is rosier in the Champions League, but there must break a scoreless deadlock with Greek scrappers Olympiakos. The question remains: will the Blues be able to find their top gear this campaign? This team could use an old fashioned blowout.
#8 - Porto
Sure they are runaway leaders in Portugal, but the Dragons seem to be snacking on a league that is in a slight down cycle. If thy can't find a way to overcome a Champions League deficit to Schalke, their spot in the top 10 becomes shaky. One also wonders what might happen if Porto would somehow lose top gun Lisandro Lopez for any length of time because no one else seems willing to step up as a consistent goal threat.
#9 - Everton
One has to applaud David Moyes for assembling what may be the most annoying Premiership club to play against. A solid line-up backed by increasingly stingy U.S. keeper Tim Howard holds fourth place in England - but how many people would know the Toffees had the fourth best offense and third best defense in the Prem? With under-heralded aces like Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott leading the Mersey charge, the Goodison boys have also smashed their way to UEFA Cup round of 16 clash with Fiorentina.
#10 - Lyon
While knotted at 1-1 with Champions League opponent Manchester United, the six-time defending French kings may be slipping off their domestic throne. They've allowed Bordeaux to climb to within three points by losing two and drawing two from their last eight. Goals from starlet duo Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa have dried up in February, making Fred's weekend a welcome treat. Perhaps just in the nick of time because Bordeaux (who won at Gerland last time over) come to town on March 8th.
On the outside looking in: Juventus, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Rangers, Schalke 04, AC Milan, Celtic, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, Fiorentina, PSV Eindhoven, Fenerbahce, Aston Villa
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