On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we’ll debate which clubs are among Europe’s elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our October edition, we’re highlighting the most underrated player on each team that made our list.
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1. Liverpool ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Previous rank: 3 ๐
Arne Slot owes a lot of his early-season success to Ryan Gravenberch, who’s dusted himself off to anchor Liverpool’s midfield after spending much of last season on the bench. Normally a box-to-box midfielder, Gravenberch has adapted to his new role with characteristic nonchalance. He’s started in each of Liverpool’s seven matches for a reason. – Anthony Lopopolo
2. Real Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
Previous rank: 5 ๐
Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois get a lot of praise for keeping Madrid tight at the back. But Eder Militao has done an excellent job shoring up a defensive line that’s otherwise light on options. Militao will likely make way for David Alaba once he returns, but the Brazilian currently leads the team in clearances (28) and successful tackles (12), and chipped in with a goal in the Madrid derby. – Lopopolo
3. Bayern Munich ๐ฉ๐ช
Previous rank: 10 ๐
Serge Gnabry is having fun on the pitch again. And that’s bad news for Bayern Munich’s opponents. After being sidelined with injuries last season, the 29-year-old has credited a rigorous summer workout routine with helping him bounce back and play an important role for a Bayern Munich team that’s been scary good so far. – Gordon Brunt
4. Manchester City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Previous rank: 1 ๐
Few players in Manchester City’s star-studded squad are overlooked more than the defenders. And that’s especially true for Manuel Akanji. Week in and week out, the Swiss center-back can be counted on as a reliable source capable of extinguishing threats with his imposing defense while possessing the technical ability and awareness that coach Pep Guardiola covets. – Brunt
5. Arsenal ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Previous rank: 6 ๐
A year removed from a serious knee injury that forced him to miss his debut season with Arsenal, Jurrien Timber is making up for lost time, offering valuable defensive contributions for Mikel Arteta’s unbeaten Gunners. Alongside his ability to play multiple positions, Timber’s a threat up front with his vision and ability to create chances for his team’s potent attack. – Brunt
6. Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
Previous rank: 2 ๐
Barcelona’s unsung hero to start the season, veteran Spanish center-back Inigo Martinez has been crucial in helping the Catalans dominate right out of the gates. While Barca’s attack has been scoring at an insane rate, Martinez was busy forming a fortress in defense โ one that was sorely missed when Hansi Flick’s rotated squad was thrashed 4-2 by Osasuna without the 33-year-old at the back. – Brunt
7. Paris Saint-Germain ๐ซ๐ท
Previous rank: 7 โ๏ธ
Bradley Barcola has filled in nicely for Kylian Mbappe and Joao Neves has five assists, but PSG’s most intriguing player is Lee Kang-in, the versatile South Korean who can do everything in the final third. He’s played as midfielder and a false nine, scored and held up play, and dribbled by his man. Expect more from the 23-year-old. – Lopopolo
8. Juventus ๐ฎ๐น
Previous rank: 8 โ๏ธ
Pierre Kalulu is a big reason why Juventus haven’t conceded a goal in Serie A this season. The Frenchman arrived as a late summer add-on from AC Milan and has since bossed the pitch for Juventus from both the center-back and right-back positions. His clean technique, vision, and overall awareness make him a complete defender. – Lopopolo
9. Atletico Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
Previous rank: 12 ๐
Marcos Llorente has picked up where he left off last season, proving himself an invaluable asset who can do almost anything. Whether he’s called into a defensive role or pushed into attack where penetrating runs down the right and accurate crossing can wreak havoc against the opposition, the 29-year-old is a master at filling whatever gaps arise in Diego Simeone’s squad. – Brunt
10. Chelsea ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Previous rank: N/A ๐
Chelsea were a mess at right-back when Malo Gusto was out injured. The Blues won both games without the 21-year-old but were forced to make changes at right-back both times. Luckily for coach Enzo Maresca, Gusto’s absence was brief and he settled back into his position, where his athleticism and pace have been a huge boost since his 2023 arrival. He’s the perfect player to roster in the likely event Chelsea’s first choice at right-back, Reece James, isn’t healthy. – Brunt
11. Inter Milan ๐ฎ๐น
Previous rank: 4 ๐
Inter’s attacking moves usually start on the left, where Federico Dimarco inflicts his damage, winning duels and squeezing opponents. Most impressively, Dimarco leads Serie A with 29 shot-creating actions. Simone Inzaghi relies on the Italian defender to provide width to his 3-5-2 formation, but he often does more, jumping into midfield to help teammates. – Lopopolo
12. Bayer Leverkusen ๐ฉ๐ช
Previous rank: 17 ๐
Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface are making all the headlines, but few are as important to Bayer Leverkusen as Alejandro Grimaldo. The 29-year-old is a consistent menace in attack and isn’t afraid to show off his lethal shot. He’s also well-versed in setting up goals – registering four assists in eight games this season – while his ability to drop deep is often a huge help to Xabi Alonso’s side. – Brunt
13. Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Previous rank: N/A ๐
Aston Villa’s best signing of the January transfer window is flying under the radar again: Morgan Rogers continues to evolve into a star as he takes on more responsibilities in Unai Emery’s squad. The attack-minded Rogers, who can play on the wing or in the heart of midfield, was instrumental in helping Villa secure a Champions League spot last season and will be relied on heavily again both domestically and in Europe. – Brunt
14. Monaco ๐ซ๐ท
Previous rank: N/A ๐
Defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria is quietly having another great season. The Swiss international has been excellent in his role, helping AS Monaco maintain the best defensive record in Ligue 1 after conceding just three goals in six games. Although he’s a huge benefit in defense, Zakaria has thrived in a higher role this season where he’s already recorded two goals and an assist. – Brunt
15. AC Milan ๐ฎ๐น
Previous rank: N/A ๐
Scoring an 89th-minute winner against your eternal rivals is worth celebrating. But it’s just one moment. Matteo Gabbia‘s weekly progression is an even bigger development for AC Milan. A product of the club’s academy and one of the only Italians in the team, Gabbia has become a leader at the back and helped solve chronic defensive issues. – Lopopolo
16. Sporting CP ๐ต๐น
Previous rank: 13 ๐
It isn’t just Viktor Gyokeres’ goals that have propelled Sporting CP to a perfect record in Portugal and the Champions League. Daniel Braganca is one of many supporting characters who’ve helped Gyokeres open the season with 11 goals in nine games. The 25-year-old co-captain, who also has a keen eye for goal, has consistently been a key contributor who can just as easily produce a defense-splitting pass as he can an important tackle to bail out his team. – Brunt
17. Napoli ๐ฎ๐น
Previous rank: N/A ๐
Napoli are surprisingly back atop the Serie A table; their strength of schedule is the only thing holding them back from climbing higher on this list right now. New coach Antonio Conte has made headlines, but defensive midfielder Stanislav Lobotka deserves a lot of credit for the club’s revival after its poor title defense last season. The Slovakian is making a strong case to be considered the best all-around midfielder in Italy late in his career at 29. His tireless work rate, along with his combination of useful aggression and technical ability, has been crucial both in and out of possession. – Brunt
18. PSV Eindhoven ๐ณ๐ฑ
Previous rank: 11 ๐
PSV have only lost once this season – at Juventus in the Champions League – but otherwise have an unblemished record in the Eredivisie. They have nine different league scorers and seven with more than a goal, but Malik Tillman is the pick of the bunch. He’s been a creative force this season, leading the Dutch top flight with 26 shot-creating actions from open play. – Lopopolo
19. RB Leipzig ๐ฉ๐ช
Previous rank: 9 ๐
Benjamin Sesko, Lois Openda, and Xavi Simons get all the attention at Leipzig, but David Raum is very much a part of the club’s core and a key component of the team’s underrated defensive unit. Raum, 26, is as energetic a left-back as they come, offering an avalanche of quality crosses along with incisive runs. – Lopopolo
20. Borussia Dortmund ๐ฉ๐ช
Previous rank: 20 โ๏ธ
Dortmund are unpredictable, but they’re lucky to have a model of consistency in Pascal Gross, a chameleonic midfielder who creates chances without neglecting the grittier parts of the game. He’s an early candidate for signing of the season, having joined Dortmund from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported ยฃ5.9 million. – Lopopolo
On the cusp: Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Celtic
