Now that we have reached the finals of the Copa Libertadores, it’s time for an updated WCR Top 25 Clubs in the World list. The truth, however, is that the Copa Libertadores is having very little effect on the rankings. Primarily, this is because the clubs that are doing well in the Copa Libertadores are having significant trouble domestically. From Brazil, Cruzeiro got past compatriot Gremio to reach the Copa Libertadores finals, but as long as Cruzeiro is fifteenth in the Brasileirao Serie A, it’s not going to be able to qualify for the rankings. Meanwhile, the other finalist, Estudiantes de la Plata, finished the Argentine Clausura this weekend in sixth place. While it does make the rankings this week, it is unlikely to move much higher given its domestic mediocrity.
Domestic results, however, have had an affect on the rankings. In Argentina, Huracan gave up a controversial goal to Velez Sarsfield, losing 0-1 and giving the Clausura title to Velez Sarsfield. In Brazil, the Brasileirao Serie A season is approaching midseason. Since the previous rankings, Internacional has moved past Atletico Mineiro into the Serie A lead and into the rankings.
We’re picking Estudiantes to win the Copa Libertadores, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here, or at least below, is the current list of the WCR Top 25. Enjoy.
(Note: We’ll be back with one final Top 25 for the 2008-09 season in two weeks following the conclusion of the Copa Libertadores.)
World Club Rankings – Top 25 Clubs in the World – July 6, 2009
1. Barcelona (Esp) (1)
2. Manchester United (Eng) (2)
3. Chelsea (Eng) (3)
4. Arsenal (Eng) (4)
5. Liverpool (Eng) (5)
6. Inter Milan (Ita) (6)
7. Wolfsburg (Ger) (7)
8. Real Madrid (Esp) (9)
9. AC Milan (Ita) (10)
10. Porto (Por) (11)
11. Bordeaux (Fra) (12)
12. Bayern Munich (Ger) (13)
13. AZ Alkmaar (Ned) (14)
14. Juventus (Ita) (15)
15. Marseille (Fra) (16)
16. Sevilla (Esp) (17)
17. Internacional (Bra) (NR) – In the past week, Internacional fought Corinthians to a 2-2 draw at home but it wasn’t enough as it fell to Corinthians in the final of the Copa do Brasil. On a brighter note, however, Internacional did defeat Nautico 2-0 in Serie A play to move into first place in the Brazilian top division. This week, Internacional will play the away half of its Recopa Sudamericana matchup with 2008 Copa Libertadores champions LDU Quito, down 0-1 after losing at home in the the first leg. Internacional also has three matches coming up in Serie A play including a July 19 away match against Copa Libertadores semifinalist Gremio.
18. Atletico Mineiro (Bra) (8) – After starting the season on top of the Brasileirao Serie A, Atletico MG has hit a rough spot, drawing 1-1 at home this weekend against Botafogo and dropping into second place in Brazil. Several top clubs await Atletico Mineiro in the next few weeks with an away match against Copa Libertadores finalist Cruzeiro on July 12 and an away match against defending Serie A champion Sao Paolo on July 19.
19. Rangers (Sco) (18)
20. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) (19)
21. Gremio (Bra) (21) – Gremio managed to score a 2-2 draw with Cruzeiro this past week, but that wasn’t enough as it fell 2-4 in aggregate in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores. Gremio did have more success domestically in the past week, defeating Atletico Paranaense 4-1. Now that its international season is over, Gremio can concentrate on domestic play, which is fortunate as Gremio will face Copa do Brasil champions Corinthians and Copa do Brasil runners-up and current Serie A leaders Internacional over the next two Sundays.
22. VfB Stuttgart (Ger) (20)
23. Sporting CP (Por) (22)
24. Estudiantes de La Plata (Arg) (BU) – With a 2-1 victory over River Plate, Estudiantes finished the Argentine Clausura in sixth place. More importantly, with a 2-1 victory over Uruguayan club Nacional, Estudiantes advanced to the finals of the Copa Libertadores, where it will face Brazil’s Cruzeiro over the next two Wednesday evenings.
25. Everton (Eng) (24)
Bubbling Under: Celtic (Sco), Genoa (ita), Lyon (Fra), Olympiakos (Gre), Twente (Ned).
Next Five: Ajax (Ned), Benfica (Por), Palmeiras (Bra), PSV Eindhoven (Ned), Velez Sarsfield (Arg).
Domestic results, however, have had an affect on the rankings. In Argentina, Huracan gave up a controversial goal to Velez Sarsfield, losing 0-1 and giving the Clausura title to Velez Sarsfield. In Brazil, the Brasileirao Serie A season is approaching midseason. Since the previous rankings, Internacional has moved past Atletico Mineiro into the Serie A lead and into the rankings.
We’re picking Estudiantes to win the Copa Libertadores, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here, or at least below, is the current list of the WCR Top 25. Enjoy.
(Note: We’ll be back with one final Top 25 for the 2008-09 season in two weeks following the conclusion of the Copa Libertadores.)
World Club Rankings – Top 25 Clubs in the World – July 6, 2009
1. Barcelona (Esp) (1)
2. Manchester United (Eng) (2)
3. Chelsea (Eng) (3)
4. Arsenal (Eng) (4)
5. Liverpool (Eng) (5)
6. Inter Milan (Ita) (6)
7. Wolfsburg (Ger) (7)
8. Real Madrid (Esp) (9)
9. AC Milan (Ita) (10)
10. Porto (Por) (11)
11. Bordeaux (Fra) (12)
12. Bayern Munich (Ger) (13)
13. AZ Alkmaar (Ned) (14)
14. Juventus (Ita) (15)
15. Marseille (Fra) (16)
16. Sevilla (Esp) (17)
17. Internacional (Bra) (NR) – In the past week, Internacional fought Corinthians to a 2-2 draw at home but it wasn’t enough as it fell to Corinthians in the final of the Copa do Brasil. On a brighter note, however, Internacional did defeat Nautico 2-0 in Serie A play to move into first place in the Brazilian top division. This week, Internacional will play the away half of its Recopa Sudamericana matchup with 2008 Copa Libertadores champions LDU Quito, down 0-1 after losing at home in the the first leg. Internacional also has three matches coming up in Serie A play including a July 19 away match against Copa Libertadores semifinalist Gremio.
18. Atletico Mineiro (Bra) (8) – After starting the season on top of the Brasileirao Serie A, Atletico MG has hit a rough spot, drawing 1-1 at home this weekend against Botafogo and dropping into second place in Brazil. Several top clubs await Atletico Mineiro in the next few weeks with an away match against Copa Libertadores finalist Cruzeiro on July 12 and an away match against defending Serie A champion Sao Paolo on July 19.
19. Rangers (Sco) (18)
20. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) (19)
21. Gremio (Bra) (21) – Gremio managed to score a 2-2 draw with Cruzeiro this past week, but that wasn’t enough as it fell 2-4 in aggregate in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores. Gremio did have more success domestically in the past week, defeating Atletico Paranaense 4-1. Now that its international season is over, Gremio can concentrate on domestic play, which is fortunate as Gremio will face Copa do Brasil champions Corinthians and Copa do Brasil runners-up and current Serie A leaders Internacional over the next two Sundays.
22. VfB Stuttgart (Ger) (20)
23. Sporting CP (Por) (22)
24. Estudiantes de La Plata (Arg) (BU) – With a 2-1 victory over River Plate, Estudiantes finished the Argentine Clausura in sixth place. More importantly, with a 2-1 victory over Uruguayan club Nacional, Estudiantes advanced to the finals of the Copa Libertadores, where it will face Brazil’s Cruzeiro over the next two Wednesday evenings.
25. Everton (Eng) (24)
Bubbling Under: Celtic (Sco), Genoa (ita), Lyon (Fra), Olympiakos (Gre), Twente (Ned).
Next Five: Ajax (Ned), Benfica (Por), Palmeiras (Bra), PSV Eindhoven (Ned), Velez Sarsfield (Arg).
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