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We're at the halfway point in the group stage of this season's Champions League. Although nothing is set in stone as far as guaranteed qualification, a few sides have put their names up in chalk and are a step away from progress to the knockout phase.
Teams like RB Salzburg and Slavia Praha who have been drawn into difficult groups are giving a good account of themselves by most measures. Teenage striking sensation Erling Braut Haaland is currently this edition's top scorer with six goals in the Champions League in just three games.
However, there are others who have blazed a trail so far and looked impressive in the early stages of this year's competition. Those teams in many ways are laying down a marker for this season that they will not be easy to beat as we go deeper into the competition.
#5 Manchester City
They may have had a few stutters in the Premier League this season, but their form in the Champions League has been imperious. They are currently the third-highest scoring side in the Champions League with 10 goals to their name in just three games.
This juggernaut shows no signs of stopping even if Pep Guardiola thinks they're not ready to win the Champions League just yet. There are three teams in this edition of the Champions League who have won all of their games so far and Manchester City are among that illustrious list.
Although, they're the least impressive of the top teams because the level of opposition they've faced so far has been far from top calibre. Even Atalanta who were seen as a potential banana skin in this group were mauled over by City.
Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers
#4 Bayern Munich
Anyone who watched this Bayern Munich team tear Tottenham to shreds in their 7-2 victory at White Hart Lane will agree that they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in this competition. They boast the services of the Champions League's second top scorer, Robert Lewandowski, who is just a goal behind Haaland with 5 to his name. As a team, though, no one has scored more goals that Niko Kovac's side this season.
They also dominated Serbian League leaders Red Star Belgrade in the opening game and after an early scare in their last game against Olympiakos, came back to beat them 3-2 in Greece as well.
Given that they're embroiled in a closely fought Bundesliga simultaneously, the ease with which they're brushing aside Champions League opposition is frankly scary. There's plenty of attacking prowess in this team even if they're at times defensively suspect.
#3 Paris Saint Germain
When you begin your Champions League campaign with a 3-0 thumping of Real Madrid, people start to take notice. Angel di Maria has played a big role in the perfect start that the Parisian's have made to the campaign, particularly in his contribution against Zinedine Zidane's Madrid. A game that PSG played without Neymar, Kylian Mbappe or Edinson Cavani but managed to find new gems like Idrissa Gueye in their midst.
They've since sneaked a win in Turkey against a resilient Galatasaray and Mbappe came off the bench to fire three against Club Brugge in a 5-0 lashing. It's almost tradition to speculate if Paris can make it all the way this season but they're genuinely making waves with their start this edition.
If they can manage to keep their key players on the pitch, it may be a journey further than they've gone in the recent past.
#2 Barcelona
The Catalan club have failed to be convincing in any of their group games so far. They began with a 0-0 draw to Borussia Dortmund that many were surprised that they didn't lose. It was followed by a home victory against Inter Milan that saw them step it up and take the game to Inter and although they were good, they reverted to type against Slavia Praha in the third group game.
Barcelona are expected to be top of this group, but given their rocky start and the calibre of opponents they've faced in this season's "group of death", the 7-point-haul at the top of the group is looking more impressive.
Ernesto Valverde needs to make his team play good football more consistently but once they're clicking, it'll be fun to watch them take teams apart on a regular basis in Europe.
#1 Napoli
In a group with the defending champions and this season's surprise package RB Salzburg, Napoli are expected to qualify from the group but no one expected them to be top. Yet, that's where they sit having claimed the scalp of Liverpool on the opening day.
They followed up that impressive display with a poor 0-0 draw at Genk, but have since emerged victors in a thrilling 3-2 win over RB Salzburg to give them 7 points in an unbeaten start.
They have put together a campaign that has surprised and enthralled so far and given their performances, it's likely that they will continue to entertain as we go forward. Their biggest test awaits them as they're yet to travel to Anfield, but if they manage to get a result on that hallowed ground, they may even finish this group stage on top.
