The Footy Power Rankings - November 3: Bayern on top but Real Madrid closing in fast

Every week, we'll attempt to organize the beautiful, chaotic world that is European football. Taking into consideration both domestic and continental form, strength of schedule and underlying statistics, we'll try to figure out which teams can rightfully claim to be Europe's very best. You'll disagree with most of it, of course, but that's part of the fun.

Note: The totals for goals scored and against include both league and European competitions

1. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 1st 

The reigning German champions have done nothing over the past week to warrant a slide, despite not replicating the all-conquering performances of mid-October - when the goals were flowing more freely than wine at an Italian wedding.

On paper, a 2-1 comeback win over a Borussia Dortmund side that had lost five of its last six Bundesliga matches isn't overly impressive. But don't let the scoreline deceive you. Bayern outshot their rivals 25-10, and were it not for 14 saves (!) from Roman Weidenfeller, we could have been talking about this match in the same breath as the 7-1 win over Roma.

Pep Guardiola's team is still very much a fine-tuned machine, and it really pisses Marco Reus off.

Cheer up, Marco, you'll be there soon enough.

2. Real Madrid (1st in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 4th

Speaking of machines that have no regard for the well-being of opposing defenders ...

Real Madrid has scored at least three goals in each of its last five matches, with a dominant 3-1 victory over Barcelona arguably the showpiece result of the season across all of Europe's top five leagues.

Aside from conceding an early goal, it was a true masterpiece from Los Blancos. The artists are all happy, and when they're happy, they do things that other, less talented artists can't. Things like this, from a 4-0 win over Granada.

All of this has come without the injured Gareth Bale. The debate has raged as to whether the side functions better with the Welshman on the sidelines. Think about that for a second. That's what this has come to. Do they need the most expensive player of all-time? It's entirely unfair.

3. Chelsea (1st in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 2nd

How good is Chelsea this season?

Diego Costa, who was walking on water early in the campaign, has been either absent or playing at less than 100 percent for the past month. Fellow striker Loic Remy has also missed time through injury.

Typically, your average team forced to resort to its third-choice striker - who also happens to be 36 years old - would struggle. Jose Mourinho (with the help of Roman Abramovich's giant wallet) has constructed something far better than your average side.

When you're this good, you can completely botch the pronunciation of an opposing team and nobody can say a damn thing.

4. Barcelona (4th in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 3rd

It's far from a crisis, but two consecutive defeats for Luis Enrique's men is worrisome insomuch as their status within the premier echelon of European clubs is in question.

Real Madrid exposed Barcelona's vulnerability on the counter-attack, and Celta Vigo pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset to suggest that the Camp Nou may not be the fortress it once was.

That'll happen when you've been so dominant for so long.

This team has some issues. The holy trinity of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, while great going forward, leaves the midfield very exposed and forces them to cover an extraordinary amount of ground. There are questions about the defense. Injuries to Andres Iniesta and Jeremy Mathieu will test a team that isn't nearly as deep as it once was.

It's far from perfect. Most teams in Europe would kill for this level of imperfection.

5. Manchester City (3rd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 5th

Here's a portrait of Manchester City this season:

What's so interesting about Manuel Pellegrini's men? A team so loaded with quality throughout the squad should be running rampant (see: Real Madrid). Instead, the Citizens continue to look aloof towards the 2014-15 campaign.

A 2-1 loss to West Ham was followed by a 1-0 victory over city rivals United this past weekend, and for all of the brilliant attacking play they displayed in both matches, there's obviously something missing.

Perhaps it's all down to Yaya Toure, or maybe the problems run much deeper than that. Either way, it's fascinating.

6. Atletico Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 6th

The adjustment period seems to be over.

In four consecutive wins since last month's 3-1 loss to Valencia, Diego Simeone has seen his side outscore opponents 12-2. The pieces, namely Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic, are starting to fit into their respective slots, and no longer look like a pair of round pegs trying to squeeze their way into square holes. The Frenchman in particular has looked much more comfortable of late, scoring three goals in as many matches.

It was always going to take time after the significant changeover in the summer. That time has come.

7. Paris Saint-Germain (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 8th

The Parisien side has clawed to within four points of the Ligue 1 lead, and have finally seemed to ditch their early fascination with drawing matches 1-1.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not played since Sept. 21 due to a heel injury. He should return at some point this month.

You should all be reacting in an appropriate manner.

8. Marseille (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 7th

Marcelo Bielsa tasted defeat for the first time as Marseille manager last week, watching as his team succumbed to a 1-0 loss against Lyon.

A single defeat to a quality side is nothing to fret about, but if the team suffers a similar setback in this weekend's monumental clash with Paris Saint-Germain, perhaps we should start to worry if Marseille can hang with the big boys.

9. Juventus (1st in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 9th

A shocking, last-second loss to Genoa sandwiched a pair of 2-0 victories over Palermo and Empoli in the past week-and-a-half, and had Juventus supporters questioning the direction of the club and its ability to take the next step and get into the conversation with Europe's elite.

Two wins and a loss in a match that they dominated, and still it's not quite good enough for many. That's the predicament Juventus finds itself in. It's a good place to be.

With Andrea Pirlo slowly rounding back into form and Alvaro Morata (mercifully) supplanting Fernando Llorente in the starting lineup, October's struggles should be a thing of the past.

And if nothing else, Carlos Tevez is still around.

10. Southampton (2nd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 11th

The Saints keep marching in.

Ronald Koeman's side continues to rack up points early in the season, and in doing so are quickly dispelling any suggestions that Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and company will not be able to sustain their success all year long.

Built on a stingy backline and boasting legitimate gamebreakers that haven't received the attention they deserve (cough, Tadic, cough), Southampton could finally be the team that breaks the Champions League monotony in England.

Next month will bring the real test for Southampton, as they will tangle with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea in December (after a meeting with Manchester City on Nov. 30).

Judgement day is coming.

11. Roma (2nd in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 10th

"We were lucky to be just a goal down at halftime."

That's the best thing manager Rudi Garcia could say about his team's first-half performance against Napoli on Saturday - a match they would go on to lose only 2-0 after being run rampant at the Stadio San Paolo.

Perhaps it was just a blip on the radar. Roma have, after all, been wonderful for most of the season. Or, maybe it's a sign that this squad is not quite ready to compete with Europe's elite, considering they have now lost against Bayern Munich, Juventus and Napoli in their three biggest games of the year.

A Champions League rematch with Bayern Munich is on the horizon, and it will go a long way to proving just what this team is actually capable of in 2014-15.

12. Valencia (2nd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 12th

Los Che have won seven of its ten matches this season, playing some thrilling football under new manager Nuno along the way.

And almost all of that has come without the club's marquee summer signing in the lineup. Alvaro Negredo has played just 17 minutes this season due to a foot injury, but with that time coming in Valencia's last two matches, the man affectionately known as The Beast is slowly nearing full fitness.

This is the kind of thing he's capable of:

(Courtesy: 101 Great Goals)

That's a sobering thought for the rest of La Liga, who, aside from Real Madrid, are all looking up at Valencia in the table.

13. Alexis Sanchez Arsenal (4th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 15th

Despite the gluttony of injuries, the defensive concerns and the continued reliance on Mathieu Flamini to play actual minutes instead of watching from the bench where he belongs, Arsenal finds itself in a Champions League place.

They can thank Alexis Sanchez for that. 

The tireless attacker willed the Gunners to victories over Sunderland and Burnley over the last week, scoring four goals in those two matches and officially submitting his resume to replace the bunny as Energizer's mascot.

If Arsene Wenger wanted to change the club crest to a picture of the Chilean's face, would anybody object?

14. FC Porto (2nd in Primeira Liga)

Previous Rank: NA

Welcome to the party.

The only undefeated team in Portugal is rolling over the past month, ripping off four consecutive wins in all competitions, including a 5-0 annihilation of (an admittedly awful) Arouca.

Jackson Martinez has ten goals on the year, the club has been stout defensively and in Juan Quintero and Ruben Neves, fans are being treated to two players who are on their way to very big things in the future.

That future is likely with another club, but that's not the point. Enjoy it now, this side is worth your time.

15. Manchester United (10th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 14th

David Moyes is being discussed again. That's not a good thing for Manchester United.

The Red Devils have collected just a solitary point in their last two matches, but context is, as always, crucial. Louis van Gaal's men managed a draw against league leaders Chelsea before succumbing to Manchester City this past weekend - while playing with 10 men for 50 minutes.

All things considered, and despite what many will say about the club's start in comparison to last season, there is optimism to be had around Old Trafford. 

That said, if the club has to rely on Michael Carrick, Paddy McNair and Antonio Valencia in defense for any extended period of time, that balloon will burst real fast.

Dropped out: Borussia Dortmund

On the cusp: Borussia Monchengladbach, Sevilla, Wolfsburg, Napoli, Liverpool