European Power Rankings: Top 25 Teams on the Continent

As the season chugs toward its conclusion, winning means more than ever in the B/R European Power Rankings.

These days, winning trophies means everything. And, well, nothing. Any team can win a few matches here and there; the best of the best turn that into silverware. Except sometimes they don't.

In other words, winning trophies is important, but it's not the only thing.

Got it? As clear as mud?

Keep all that in mind for this week's rankings, which include an old friend returning to the fold, upstarts pushing for respect, and more than a few champions winning silverware.

Questions? Angry comments? You know what to do.

Dropped out: Málaga (21)

Results: Lost 3-1 at Parma (league); won 4-2 home to AC Milan (league)

Fixtures: At Lazio, Sunday (league)

Previous: Not ranked

Comments: Inter are back, baby!

Ahem, something like that.

After Sunday's big 4-2 win over Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, Inter can still technically finish third in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League.

But that looks like a long shot. Still, 36-year-old manager Andrea Stramaccioni has the Nerazzurri playing well.

If only they hadn't lost to Parma midweek, the win over AC Milan might have set up Inter for third place. As it is, they'll have to content themselves with knowing they officially ended Milan's title challenge.

Watch out for Inter next season.

Results: Lost 3-0 home to Real Madrid (league); drew 0-0 home to Getafe (league)

Fixtures: Vs. Atletico Madrid at Arena Nationala, Bucharest, Wednesday (Europa League final); at Levante, Sunday (league); vs. Barcelona at Estadio Vicente Calderon, May 25 (Copa del Rey final)

Previous: 25

Comments: This is a protest vote. Sure, Athletic Bilbao are Europa League finalists, and that deserves a higher ranking. But they're 10th in La Liga.

Clearly, part of that has to do with priorities and, of course, those Europa League exploits. But that doesn’t make it any easier to rank them.

Anyway, Athletic have two cup finals coming up, and I could honestly see them winning both, neither or either.

What a weird, enjoyable and infuriating team.

Results: Won 4-0 home to Osasuna (league); won 1-0 home to Villarreal (league)

Fixtures: At Real Sociedad, Sunday (league)

Previous: 22

Comments: Valencia will finish third in Spain's La Liga, which is no small feat. But it might get their manager fired.

Results: No new results.

Fixtures: Season complete.

Previous: 23

Comments: Olympiakos won the league and cup double in Greece. Keep an eye on them next season.

Results: Drew 1-1 home to Real Sociedad (league); won 2-1 home to Málaga (league)

Fixtures: Vs. Athletic Bilbao at Arena Nationala, Bucharest, Wednesday (Europa League final); at Villarreal, Sunday (league)

Previous: 24

Comments: Here are your other Europa League finalists. But unlike Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid actually seem somewhat concerned about their league position.

They’ll need a win and help to finish fourth. That draw at home to Real Sociedad was costly.

Results: Won 4-1 at Bolton Wanderers (league); drew 1-1 at Aston Villa (league)

Fixtures: Home to Fulham, Sunday (league)

Previous: 20

Comments: Third place was looking certain after Arsenal drew with Norwich on Saturday.

Then Spurs did their North London rivals one better (worse?) by drawing 1-1 at relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Not good.

Results: Won 2-1 home to FC Thun (league); won 5-1 at FC Zurich (league)

Fixtures: Home to Grasshoppers, Saturday (league); vs. FC Lucerne at Stade de Suisse, May 16 (Swiss Cup final); at Servette, May 20 (league); home to Young Boys, May 23 (league)

Previous: 19

Comments: Basel already won the Swiss Super League. The domestic cup final beckons later this month.

Results: Won 1-0 home to Uniao Leiria (league)

Fixtures: At Setubal, Sunday (league)

Previous: 16

Comments: Benfica's shot at the Portuguese league title is gone. Now they have to figure out a way to hold onto their best players this summer—or how to get the most value for them in the transfer market.

Results: Won 1-0 at Nice (league)

Fixtures: Home to Caen, Monday (league); at Montpellier, Sunday (league)

Previous: 18

Comments: Lille’s title hopes are slim but still alive. Win both games this week and they’ll look much better.

Results: Won 3-2 at Werder Bremen (league)

Fixtures: Season complete

Previous: 17

Comments: Schalke finished third in the Bundesliga, four points ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach.

That means they’ve punched their ticket to the Champions League group stage next season.

Results: Drew 3-3 home to Norwich City (league)

Fixtures: At West Bromwich Albion, Sunday (league)

Previous: 11

Comments: The Gunners keep misfiring. They should have clinched third place a long time ago, but instead, they dropped more points and had to rely on Spurs to do the same.

How costly has the injury of Mikel Arteta been?

Results: Won 2-0 home to St. Etienne (league); won 4-3 at Valenciennes (league)

Fixtures: Home to Rennes, Sunday (league)

Previous: 15

Comments: PSG overcame a two-goal deficit, then nearly blew a two-goal lead against Valenciennes on Sunday. Their roller-coaster season has played out similarly.

The big spenders lead France's Ligue 1 on goal differential over Montpellier, who have a game in hand.

Results: Drew 2-2 at Rubin Kazan (league); lost 3-2 home to Spartak Moscow (league)

Fixtures: At Anzhi Makhachkala, Sunday (league)

Previous: 14

Comments: Zenit drew once and lost once this week, but neither result mattered. They’ve already wrapped up another Russian Premier League title.

Results: Drew 2-2 home to Evian Thonon (league)

Fixtures: At Rennes, Monday (league); home to Lille, Sunday (league)

Previous: 13

Comments: That draw was costly, but Montpellier can make up for it Monday against Rennes.

Results: Won 2-0 home to Sporting Lisbon (league)

Fixtures: At Rio Ave, Sunday (league)

Previous: 12

Comments: Porto have already clinched their eighth Primeira title in 10 years.

Results: Lost 1-0 at Manchester City (league); won 2-0 home to Swansea City (league)

Fixtures: At Sunderland, Sunday (league)

Previous: 8

Comments: United are suddenly one game away from going trophy-less this season.

Unless you want to count the Community Shield. If you do, by all means, go ahead.

Results: Won 2-0 home to Atalanta (league); lost 4-2 at Inter Milan (league)

Fixtures: Home to Novara, Sunday (league)

Previous: 7

Comments: Manchester United have company in AC Milan, whose only trophy this season will be the Supercoppa Italiana.

Results: Won 2-0 home to VVV Venlo (league); won 3-1 at Vitesse Arnhem (league)

Fixtures: Season complete

Previous: 10

Comments: Ajax clinched the Dutch title this week, closing the season with 14 straight wins and outscoring their opponents 44-6 during that time.

Results: Won 1-0 home to Manchester United (league); won 2-0 at Newcastle United (league)

Fixtures: Home to Queens Park Rangers, Sunday (league)

Previous: 9

Comments: Manchester City only need to beat relegation-threatened QPR next weekend to claim their first English title since 1968.

Results: Won 2-1 vs. Liverpool at Wembley (FA Cup final)

Fixtures: At Liverpool, Tuesday (league); home to Blackburn Rovers, Sunday (league); vs. Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena, May 19 (Champions League final)

Previous: 6

Comments: No more complaining, Chelsea fans. I'm not "disrespecting" your team.

Your team is my highest-ranked English team. One trophy is in the bag. A bigger one is still up for grabs.

Results: Drew 1-1 home to Lecce (league); won 2-0 at Cagliari (league)

Fixtures: Home to Atalanta, Sunday (league); vs. Napoli at Stadio Olimpico, May 20 (Coppa Italia final)

Previous: 5

Comments: Juventus clinched their 28th league title Sunday. The Coppa Italia final is a couple weeks away.

This is turning into a memorable season for the Bianconeri.

Results: Won 4-0 home to SC Freiburg (league)

Fixtures: Vs. Bayern Munich at Olympiastadion, Saturday (DFB-Pokal final)

Previous: 4

Comments: Borussia Dortmund ended up winning the Bundesliga by eight points over Bayern Munich and closed the domestic season on a 28-match unbeaten run.

Still, I'm ranking Bayern above them. Bayern are Champions League finalists, and Dortmund didn't even make the knockout stages.

Regardless, the upcoming German Cup final will give us yet another chance to compare the two teams.

Results: Won 4-1 home to Malaga; won 4-0 home to Espanyol (league)

Fixtures: At Real Betis, Saturday (league); vs. Athletic Bilbao at Estadio Vicente Calderon, May 25 (Copa del Rey final)

Previous: 3

Comments: The Copa del Rey is Pep Guardiola's last chance at silverware with Barca.

Results: Won 4-1 at Köln (league)

Fixtures: Next: Vs. Borussia Dortmund at Olympiastadion, Saturday (DFB-Pokal final); vs. Chelsea at Allianz Arena, May 19 (Champions League final)

Previous: 2

Comments: If you're wondering why they're here, ahead of Borussia Dortmund, go back and read the Borussia Dortmund slide.

Results: Won 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao (league); won 2-1 at Granada (league)

Fixtures: Home to Mallorca, Sunday (league)

Previous: 1

Comments: Real Madrid retain the top spot, and I don't see them losing it this season unless Bayern win both the Champions League and German Cup finals.

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