Power Rankings: Real Madrid end 2014 on top of the world

Shaka Hislop picks his ten best teams in the world based on their current form.

Shaka signs off for the winter break with his final ranks of the year and, as they have been for pretty much the entire second half of 2014, Real Madrid are top.

1. Real Madrid (no change)

Los Blancos end 2014 on top of the world after they clinched the Club World Cup with a victory vs. San Lorenzo that was so straightforward that they didn't even need Cristiano Ronaldo to score! Madrid have won 22 straight games and deservedly top the rankings at the winter break!

2. Bayern Munich (no change)

So dominant are Bayern in Germany that the only teams they are competing against are the historical versions of themselves. Having reached the season's halfway stage with a record 45 points, the only question now is, after 25 and 19-point triumphs in the last two seasons, by how many will they win the Bundesliga this time?

3. Chelsea (no change)

Given they dropped five points in their previous two away games, it was not unreasonable to think that Chelsea might struggle at Stoke. Not so. Their 2-0 win was as professional as they come, with a goal in each half and a resolute defensive display anchored by a goalkeeper, in Thibaut Courtois, who made light of the hosts' aerial attack.

4. Barcelona (no change)

Second in La Liga with 41 goals scored in 16 league games (and just seven conceded) are numbers that suggest all is well at Barca. And yet the feeling persists that Luis Enrique needs more time to impose his philosophy on his players and that it will still be a surprise if they win the title in his first season, especially given how well the Madrid clubs are playing.

Manchester City have won eight straight games in all competitions.

5. Manchester City (no change)

No striker? No problem (so far, at least). Not when you have jack-of-all-trades James Milner to step in and lead the forward line. David Silva and Yaya Toure were back among the goals vs. Crystal Palace, which is important given that Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are set to miss the entire holiday schedule.

6. Juventus (no change)

After winning at Cagliari, Juventus will have enjoyed watching their bitter rivals Milan do them a favour by holding Roma to a draw. The Old Lady then should have won the Italian Super Cup but even a penalty shootout loss vs, Napoli will not dampen optimism in the black and white half of Turin heading into 2015.

7. Atletico Madrid (no change)

A remarkable year ended for Diego Simeone's men with a performance in keeping with much of what went before. Athletic Bilbao were dispatched 4-1 as Atleti stayed within touching distance of their city rivals at the top end of La Liga. They're still in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, which bodes well for more success next year.

SHAKA HISLOP'S POWER RANKINGS

- Dec. 18: Bayern climb but Real stay No. 1
- Dec. 11: Top four stays the same
- Dec. 4: Real can't be beaten
- Nov. 27: Real Madrid take control
- Nov. 13: Outsiders make their top 10 move
- Nov. 6: Madrid stay top, Atleti close
- Oct. 30: Clasico win moves Madrid into first

8. Racing Club (no change)

The title-winning party can continue throughout the offseason before Racing return to action in 2015. Their inaction may result in them dropping out of my rankings in the meantime but, rest assured, I'll be watching for La Academia in the New Year!

9. River Plate (no change)

The same goes for River, who are out of action until they play in the Super Cup vs. Huracan in early February. It's been a pretty successful year for clubs in Argentina, as well as the national team which reached the 2014 World Cup final.

10. Wolfsburg (new)

The "best of the rest" in Germany, Wolfsburg have had a superb opening half of the season. They won't catch runaway leaders Bayern but will have circled the first game back after the winter break -- a home showdown with Pep Guardiola's men -- as an opportunity to at least give them a bloody nose.

Dropping out: Manchester United

 

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