Top 25 - February 7

The transfer window is now closed, and the top sides are all set for the run-in. Here is the updated Top 25:

Format: Rank (Previous) Team (Country)

1 (1) FC Barcelona (ESP)
2 (2) Real Madrid CF (ESP)
3 (3) Manchester City FC (ENG)
4 (4) FC Bayern Munich (GER)
5 (5) Manchester United FC (ENG)
6 (7) Chelsea FC (ENG)
7 (8) Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
8 (10) Borussia Dortmund (GER)
9 (9) Juventus FC (ITA)
10 (11) Paris St. Germain FC (FRA)
11 (6) AC Milan (ITA)
12 (13) Arsenal FC (ENG)
13 (14) FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
14 (16) SL Benfica (POR)
15 (12) FC Inter Milan (ITA)
16 (18) Schalke 04 (GER)
17 (17) LOSC Lille (FRA)
18 (15) Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
19 (25) Montpellier HSC (FRA)
20 (21) Olympique Lyon (FRA)
21 (23) CSKA Moscow (RUS)
22 (NR) Newcastle United FC (ENG)
23 (NR) Borussia Monchengladbach (GER)
24 (NR) Udinese Calcio (ITA)
25 (20) SSC Napoli (ITA)

Dropped: Valencia CF (19), Bayer Leverkusen (22), FC Porto (24)

Notes

TOP TEN: The draw between Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday showcased each team's respective strengths and weaknesses. Chelsea tend to either have too many men committed forward or too many held back, leading to either erratic, high-scoring games or one or two-goal games. United have a great attacking force and spirit to climb out of a deficit, but have shown repeated weakness on the backline. Neither team really has an identity, and it's February.. Dortmund jumped to the top of the Bundeliga after a fourth straight win in the league. Mario Gotze's absence has not been felt yet, as Jurgen Klopp has built a solid core in the midfield.. Tottenham failed to break down a Liverpool defense at Anfield, but it was a point gained rather than two dropped. Without VDV and Lennon, Tottenham do not have the same creativity, but coming away with a point away is key in the Premier League.. I'm liking PSG more and more. They play an attractive brand of football and have the quality of players to win the league. Other than Montpellier, the closest challengers are at least ten points behind.. Juventus is the only Italian club in the top ten. The Turin club are still undefeated in the league and despite some ugly results (a home draw vs. Siena this weekend), they are top of the league by a point with a game in hand over struggling AC Milan.

11-25: Just when you thought Inter Milan had put it back together, they lose away to relegation-threatened Lecce, concede four times in a draw with Palermo, which was followed by a 4-0 hammering courtesy of AS Roma. There's no consistency with the team, and it is going to be a real struggle to secure Champions League football next season.. Benfica have cruised through the Portuguese Liga this season. Fourteen wins from seventeen, along with three draws, see the club five points clear of Porto. By winning their Champions League group and drawing twice with Manchester United, Benfica have proven their top-level credentials despite being in a relatively weak league.. After PSG, all of the French clubs are grouped from 17-20. I have no idea where to put them. Montpellier are in the highest league position, but lack the player experience and club history of Lille, Marseille, and Lyon. It should be a tight battle for the UCL positions in France.. Newcastle enter the rankings this week after another impressive win over Aston Villa. It seems as if we've all been waiting for Newcastle's form to capitulate, but it hasn't happened. The team has kept to form through Demba Ba's absence and now Yohann Cabaye's absence. With Ba now back, Cabaye returning from suspension, and the addition of Papa Cisse, Newcastle's supporters are feeling ambitious about a European place.. Marco Reus continues to pull the strings for Borussia Monchengladbach. The unheralded side are currently fourth in the league, and just three points from the summit. Reus has helped lift this side and could be in line for a national team call before Euro 2012 this summer.. Udinese have taken 31 of a possible 33 points at the Stadio Friuli. Antonio Di Natale is back to form and is even being considered for an Italy recall. Their away form is troubling but in a weak Serie A, it may not matter.