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“When you start supporting a football club, you don't support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history, you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong.”
Dennis Bergkamp couldn't have defined it better.
Football clubs hold a special place in the hearts of all fans around the globe. Seeing them play week in week out is probably the best end to a week a football fan could ask for.
With a host of heavyweights currently active in the sport, it is but natural to see the fans debating about which club holds the crown as the world's ultimate footballing institution.
Had the debate been waged last season, Real Madrid would have been the obvious answer. They were downright invincible back then, but the current scenario is far from what it was last year.
While the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea have suffered for their inconsistent league campaigns, the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus have maintained their standards.
On that note, let's have a look at the top 10 football clubs currently ruling the earth this season.
#10 AS Roma
AS Roma's recent rout of Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals is a fine testament to the beautiful game's element of unpredictability and the ability to surprise its fans. However, as well as they turned a 3-0 deficit, have they been that good in their overall season 2017-18?
Of course, their Champions League campaign has been a fairytale and the most vital reason why they were able to enter this list in the first place. In spite of being fairly inconsistent in the league, they have managed to notch the 3rd position which seems an uphill task considering how intensely competitive the Serie A was when it started in August.
A major flaw in Eusebio Di Francesco's setup has been the conversion of chances into goals. Like many heavyweights on this list, La Magica have notched an impressive average of 16.7 shots per game in attack, but they have netted only 81 times in all competitions.
They have conceded an alarming 11.8 shots per game, which makes them the most vulnerable team in terms of defence on this list. Their early round of 16 exit at the hands of Torino in Coppa Italia is a fine testimony to their weak backline.
Yet, with the quality of the squad Roma have, they have certainly exceeded expectations in the Champions League this season. If they can work on being consistent in the domestic competitions, why, Roma will certainly be a force to reckon with in Italy next season.
#9 Napoli
Just have a look at the brand of football Napoli have oozed out for the past two seasons. Maurizio Sarri has effectively elevated the Biancocelesti with his astute tactical awareness amongst the top teams in the Serie A.
A possession-based play that includes passing in close-knit groups mostly on the left side have seen the Italian side become probably the most exciting bargain team at the moment.
Napoli's awesome trio of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon has handed them all the required goals to grab points in the league.
Sarri has stayed loyal to the 4-3-3 format - the only system he has used this season. Their midfield triplet of Marek Hamsik, Allan and Jorginho have notched a pass success rate of 87.2%, a vital factor in their attractive possession-based style of play.
The Italian outfit's defence has been their bedrock this season. They have conceded only 21 league goals and should they win the title, their trophy will be a fine testament to Sir Alex's age-old famous quote - "Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles."
Speaking the truth, Napoli deserve a better rank but their disappointing UEFA Champions League campaign is a crucial reason why they have missed out on a better rank.
#8 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho proved his mettle as a master tactician when he guided Manchester United to a three-trophy haul despite finishing sixth in the league last season. The Red Devils started this season with a bang but the desire to keep winning seems to have dampened as the days have passed by.
New signing Romelu Lukaku impressed in the earlier stages but has faded off a little since then. Added to that, intermittent performances from the likes of Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba and a fair share of injuries have seen United lose the league title to Manchester City in England.
Coming to their defence, United were rock-solid in the beginning with Phil Jones and Eric Bailly at the back. However, injuries to the latter seem to have taken away the sturdiness in the backline as well. They have conceded an average of 12.2 shots per game which is quite an alarming stat for a top club.
The only positives we can take from them is the aerial threat in the squad. Jose Mourinho's penchant for fielding tall men has seen United become the best team in the air with an average of 16.9 aerial duels won per game.
With the league already in Manchester City's bag and an unexpected exit from the UEFA Champions League round of 16, the FA Cup is the only possible trophy they can lift this season. They have been paired up against Tottenham Hotspur in the semis and should they proceed forward, they are set to face either of Chelsea or Southampton in the finals.
Also read: 5 longest-serving players on Manchester United's current roster
With the depth and the quality of the squad they have, Manchester United should certainly put out performances better than those they are churning out right now. Despite the fact that this has been their best season in recent times, Jose Mourinho and co. will know that they will have to up their standards if they're to seriously challenge for silverware next season.
#7 Liverpool
To tell the truth, Liverpool have considerably improved under Jurgen Klopp this season. Barring their problems with consistency in results, the Merseysiders are surely a team to be feared of.
The Kop's fearsome trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah is probably the most exciting triplet in the Premier League right now.
Salah has been a revelation this season, rising to almost every occasion when required. Roberto Firmino has also done well to complement the Egyptian with his goals. Add Sadio Mane's electrifying pace and vision to them and the output is a whopping 115 goals in all competitions excluding the friendlies — a stat that totally justifies their mammoth conversion rate from the 16.7 shots per game they have averaged per game this season.
They might have lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, but in Emre Can, Giorgio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they still have the potential to compete for a trophy.
Liverpool's defence has been intermittent on many occasions; a characteristic that needs special attention if they want to compete for the long-awaited Premier League trophy. Many times, they have scored well but lost the lead due to shoddy defending.
However, what Liverpool can do with a sturdy defence has been crystal clear in the Champions League. The Merseysiders beat Porto and Manchester City with aggregates of 5 goals while maintaining an astute backline. As a result, they are being considered as serious contenders for the UEFA Champions League title this season.
Maintaining consistency in the league will be a major issue for Klopp to address next season if Liverpool plan on ending the league drought that has plagued them since 1990.
#6 Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain spent a fortune to sign Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last summer; a move that elevated them and subsequently placed them amongst the top contenders for the UEFA Champions League this season.
The attacking trio including the aforementioned duo and Edinson Cavani has wreaked havoc in Europe, scoring an overabundance of goals. They have netted 161 times in all competitions excluding friendlies, thanks to counter-attacks, set-pieces and endless long shot opportunities. They currently boast the best goals per game ratio (3.2) amongst the heavyweights.
The depth in their squad is crystal clear when you consider their midfield. No wonder they have notched the best pass success rate (89.4%) amongst the best football clubs. Also, they have the best average of 16.9 dribbles per game; a fine testament to the individual skills of their players.
Defensively, they have been good at fending off set-pieces. But, they have a lot of work to do when it comes to aerial duels and stopping opponents from creating chances. As fecund as they are in attack, improvement at the back is equally necessary.
However, in spite of having a sound squad worthy enough for challenging for the Champions League title, Les Parisiens crashed out of the competition for the second time in a row in the round of 16.
Also, it's not just the defeat, but the manner in which they were beaten; outclassed in both the legs with an aggregate of 5-2 at the hands of Real Madrid. A clash that was being considered as a hard battle seemingly turned out to be rather one-sided, contrary to what the fans and pundits, alike, had expected.
Thus, an exit that early in the Champions League is a crucial reason why they are placed sixth on this list, in spite of having a rollicking campaign in France.
#5 Juventus
Coming back to the scene in Italy, Massimiliano Allegri's men are fighting tooth and nail for a seventh consecutive title against Napoli, leading the table with 4 points.
Frankly speaking, it is tough to elicit a weakness in the Old Lady's possession-based style of play. They are extremely dangerous going forward and waste no time in gaining the ball back once they lose it.
Unsurprisingly, their attack-minded approach has produced 99 goals in all competitions, although they have quite a room for improvement when it comes to converting chances into goals.
One of their salient features is their intense wing play. A whopping 72% of their game is played on either of the flanks, thanks to the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Diego Costa and Juan Cuadrado.
Also, Max Allegri's peerless tactical ability deserves a special mention. The Italian has used as many as six different formations this season and has got successful results out of all of them. That also proves the fantastic depth that Juventus have in their squad and how imaginatively the manager has tried out his ideas.
Coming to their defence, the Bianconeri boast one of the best backlines in Europe. They have conceded the fewest goals in the league (18), a fine statistic to prove how well-built they are at the back. In doing so, they have also maintained the age-old Italian tradition of possessing rock-solid defences which are better than any other club in the world.
However, the Old Lady failed to replicate their fine defensive sturdiness in the UEFA Champions League, which has ultimately cost them their place in Europe's elite club competition. Juventus conceded 14 goals in 10 games in the UCL, an abysmal stat when compared to their 18 goals in 32 games in the Serie A.
However, for their strong performances in Italy, Juventus can still go on to lift the league title. Further, they will face rivals AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final. Regardless of their failure in the Champions League, Allegri's men still have a good chance to cap off the season with domestic silverware to avoid a trophyless campaign.
The lack of Champions League success, though, ensures that they remain fifth on this list.
#4 Real Madrid
Real Madrid's one-and-a-half-year-long fairy tale came to an end in the first half of 2017. Los Blancos faltered unexpectedly, but they have gained their momentum and are fighting hard for the Champions League, the only major piece of silverware they can land this season.
Since the start of 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a completely different player than what he was before. After a tedious spell of six months that saw him being mocked for his abysmal conversion ratio, the Real Madrid talisman seems to be back with a bang and looks like a serious competitor for the Pichichi trophy, not to mention his domination of scoring charts in the Champions League.
Not surprisingly, with Ronaldo's return to form, Real Madrid have notched the best shots per game ratio of 18.8 on goal.
Zidane's men have been highly inconsistent in the La Liga, but they have more than made up for it by booking a berth in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Individual errors in defence have also cost Madrid a couple of points. Also, the Real defenders have found it hard to cope up with counter-attacks from opponents. In all competitions, Los Merengues have conceded 10.3 shots on goal, which needs to be taken care of ASAP.
Currently placed 3rd in the league and having missed out on the Copa del Rey earlier, the Champions League remains their only priority until the end of the season. They have looked downright menacing in the greatest club competition; the fact that they have only Champions League to compete for makes them even more serious as contenders for the title.
Unlike many other top teams, they don't have to focus on multiple tournaments and that will be an advantage in the race for a third consecutive UEFA Champions League title.
While their domestic campaign has been nothing short of forgettable, their run in Europe's best competition boosts them to fourth on this list.
#3 Barcelona
Not a lot of people would have expected La Blaugrana to perform the way they are doing at the moment. Neymar's loss, an incompetent summer in the transfer market and a managerial change forced people into doubting the club's chances of winning the silverware season.
But, Barcelona have been unbeaten in the league, successfully holding an eleven-point lead at the top of the table. Added to that, they are already in the Copa del Rey final for the fourth time in a row. Enough for doubters, don't you think?
Barcelona have seemingly returned to possession football and are the second-best team on the list when it comes to dominating the opposition, with an average possession of 60.8% per game.
The ever-effervescent Lionel Messi has been at his imperious best as usual, and Luis Suarez has done well to be counted as a worthy strike partner for the Argentinian. Ousmane Dembele has finally started justifying his price tag following a tedious time on the sidelines due to injuries.
The acquisition of Philippe Coutinho means they have found a worthy heir for Andres Iniesta. The Brazilian, much like Dembele, has been in fine form and you can bet on Barcelona being unstoppable in Europe once he plays for them in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Overall, Barcelona have exceeded expectations with a decent style of play. Even after their shock exit at the hands of Roma in the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde has every right to be proud of himself for guiding the club to an unbeaten streak in the league and booking a berth in the Copa del Rey final.
However, there are quite a few issues to work on. Their ability to neutralise the opponents from fabricating chances still needs improvement. Also, they need to pay special attention to avoiding offsides and winning aerial duels.
Another big hurdle they need to avoid is Messidependencia.
Also read: 5 reasons why Lionel Messi is bigger than the Ballon d'Or
It's high time for the Catalans to share equal responsibilities rather than just depending on the Argentinian to carry them through dark periods every time. If they don't, the fiasco against Roma will surely be a frequent scenario to watch for the fans.
#2 Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's well-oiled juggernaut is producing the best football on earth at the moment. After failing to win silverware last season, they have been confirmed as Premier League winners with 5 games yet to play, which happens to be their second trophy alongside the Carabao Cup this season.
Of course, their attacking prowess has been a cut above the rest, given the accuracy with which they have converted chances, but the midfield has been their telling strength this season.
Their three-man midfield consisting of Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva has been at its belligerent best, carving out openings with their decisive passes and excessive use of through balls.
To complement their hard work in the middle is the trio of Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at the front. The Citizens have astonishingly scored 130 times in all competitions excluding friendlies, and they have the trio to thank for it.
Just as any Guardiola team has done in the past, they have the highest percentage of possession (65.2%) amongst the best clubs, indicating the Spanish tactician's endless love for possession-based play.
Defensively, in spite of spending a fortune on defenders, City can still do better than they are doing at the moment. A certain disregard to pay attention to their defensive frailties has cost them a semi-final berth in the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup title.
Also read: Manchester City: Weekly Wages of First-Team Stars Revealed
They need to become misers at the back and should they succeed, there's hardly anyone who will be able to stop the Sky Blues from laying their hands on the Champions League next season.
#1 Bayern Munich
Apart from being one of the best clubs, Bayern Munich should also be lauded for being one of the most consistent clubs around the world. In any list similar to this one, the Bavarians always make it to the top 3 with utmost ease.
A 3-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League followed by Carlo Ancelotti's sacking had the fans doubting their potential of winning trophies this season, but Die Roten have emphatically proved them wrong, maintaining a gigantic 20-point lead at the top of the table, they are swiftly cruising towards their sixth successive Bundesliga title.
In the domestic cup, DFB Pokal, the Bavarians are set to lock horns with Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals for a place in the final.
Reinstating Jupp Heynckes as the coach has been the crucial factor behind Bayern's revival after a rocky start to the season.
Coming to their attack, their average of 18.3 shots per game (second-best on the list) speaks loads about how fierce they are in the final third. That impressive figure has been justified by the 120 goals they have scored in all competitions this season excluding friendlies.
Bayern have been fantastic at defending set-pieces but like many others on this list, they have a huge problem in stopping rivals from creating scoring chances. The fact that they have conceded an average of 9.1 shots per game is enough to know that they need to shore up their defences in time for the crunch clash against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Bayern Munich board has been hell-bent on winning the Champions League this season, and they will be a team to watch out in the semis since they are the only club with the possibility of winning the treble this season. Certainly deserve the no.1 spot, don't they?
