C’Mon Yu Irons!

If you’re reading this, then we should congratulate Manchester United on defeating Portsmouth on Monday. This week, I ran the numbers on each of three scenarios, a United win, a United draw and a United loss. The only scenario that keeps Manchester United on top is a victory over Portsmouth. Since I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to do this article on Monday, I’m going to go ahead and draft it now, assuming the most likely outcome. I’ll set my site not to post it until after the match, so I have time to change it if that outcome doesn’t take place – in which case, I’ll rerank the clubs, rewrite this paragraph and you’ll never see it.

It was a tough week for a few teams at the top of the list as Arsenal was upset by Fulham, Roma lost a heartbreaker to Inter Milan and Bayern could manage only a draw against Dortmund, though they put up quite a fight to do that. As was the case last week, there is very little movement in the rankings this week as this season’s stats count only as a continuation of last season’s stats until Matchday Five for each league. Substantial movement will take place once we get there, but the rankings will remain semi-rigid until then. (Unless Manchester United didn’t win today, in which case, you’ll see a change at the top this week.)

With the Olympics winding down, I got back into my old habit of watching way more football that any person has the right to do. The highlights of the weekend had to be the Super Cups in Italy and Spain. In Italy, the match was heavily contested the whole way and, after extra time, saw Inter Milan defeat AS Roma on penalty kicks. In Spain, Real Madrid was down in the aggregate and down to nine players when they kicked things into high gear and stole the cup from out of Valencia’s hands.

There’s one match in the coming week among WCR Top 25 clubs, as Fiorentina hosts Juventus in both clubs’ Italian Serie A season debut. In addition, a pair of classic rivalries are renewed this weekend when Celtic takes on Rangers and Porto takes on Benfica. While you wait for those matches, there are tons of international club matches during the week as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup qualifiers continue, as does the Copa Sudamericana, the debut of the CONCACAF Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup and Recopa Sudamericana finale. Perhaps most importantly, this weekend is the first weekend of the season in which all WCR Top 25 Clubs are in action. I may have to quit my job in order to catch all the action, but I’m pretty sure it would be worth it. You can make your own judgment with respect to your job.

1. Manchester United (Eng) (1) – As discussed above, if Manchester United is still in the top spot, they must have defeated Portsmouth today. If they hadn’t, I would have changed this before you had a chance to read it. The upcoming excitement for United this week come in the form of the UEFA Super Cup, when Manchester United takes on UEFA Cup champions Zenit St. Petersburg on Friday.

2. Inter Milan (Ita) (2) – The season hasn’t even started yet and Jose Mourinho has already brought some hardware to Milan. Are you watching, Chelsea? The hardware was in the form of the Italian Super Coppa, where Inter defeated Roma on penalty kicks after a 2-2 battle. Inter starts the defense of its Serie A title this weekend against Sampdoria on Saturday.

3. Real Madrid (Esp) (3) – Perhaps Real Madrid should play nine men every game. Their nine were considerably better than Valencia’s eleven in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup, which Real Madrid won 4-2. The Spanish Primera Division kicks off this weekend and Real Madrid will take on Deportivo La Coruna as it attempts to defend its title.

4. Chelsea (Eng) (4) – Chelsea wasn’t as impressive this weekend as it was last weekend, but it was impressive enough to defeat Wigan Athletic 1-0. Chelsea will host Tottenham this weekend in Premiership action.

5. Bayern Munich (Ger) (5) – Bayern is one of those clubs that is benefitting by having this season’s and last season’s numbers combined, even if it is temporary. Actually, Bayern played very well this weekend as they were shorthanded almost the entire game against Borussia Dortmund and still managed a 1-1 draw. These draws, however, aren’t going to win another Bundesliga title or keep them in the Top Ten once last season’s numbers drop away. In desperate need of a victory, Bayern hosts Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

6. Roma (Ita) (6) – On the verge of winning the Super Coppa, Roma suffered a heartbreaking loss to Inter Milan yesterday. In the big scheme of things, however, that’s probably not that important. What is important is getting to play in a Super Coppa, because it means you either won the Coppa Italia or the Scudetto. The first step in winning this season’s Serie A title takes place on Sunday when Roma hosts Napoli.

7. Arsenal (Eng) (7) – Like Bayern, Arsenal will have to pick things up soon if it wants to remain in the Top Ten after last season’s numbers drop off. Losing 0-1 to Fulham (and falling a point behind Newcastle United) is not a good sign. This week, Arsenal hosts FC Twente, where it will try to qualify for the Champions League group stage. This weekend, Arsenal hosts Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium. (No offense Gunner fans – but Go Magpies!!!)

8. Gremio (Bra) (8) – Gremio had a rough time this week, taking only a single point in two matches, including a 1-1 draw with Nautico. Gremio’s once-huge lead is down to five points. This week, Gremio plays its home match against Internacional in the Copa Sudamericana and hosts Vasco Da Gama in Serie A play.

9. Porto (Por) (9) – Porto began its defense of the bwin Superliga title this weekend with a 2-0 victory over Os Belenenses. This weekend’s matchup for Porto will be against archrival SL Benfica.

10. Juventus (Ita) (11) – With a 4-0 lead, Juventus should have no problems this week advancing to the Champions League proper against Artmedia. Sunday’s Serie A debut may be a little more difficult when they travel to take on Fiorentina.

11. Lyon (Fra) (12) – As expected, Lyon ended Grenoble’s short-lived reign at the top of Ligue Un, defeating Grenoble 2-0. Now tied for first, Lyon takes on St. Etienne on Sunday.

12. PSV Eindhoven (Ned) (10) – PSV continued its dominance of domestic competition by defeating Feyenoord this weekend to win the Dutch Super Cup. The Eredivisie gets underway this weekend and PSV starts off its title defense against FC Utrecht.

13. Werder Bremen (Ger) (13) – Took on Schalke 04 this weekend and walked away with a 1-1 draw, which wasn’t a horrible result, considering the competition. This week, Bremen takes on Bundesliga returnee Borussia Monchengladbach.

14. Villarreal (Esp) (14) – Villarreal’s season finally gets underway this weekend when it takes on Osasuna.

15. Liverpool (Eng) (15) – ‘Pool fans are upset with me because of this ranking, but Liverpool looks to be a team that should shoot up the rankings very quickly after last season’s numbers fall away. Two matches, two victories for Liverpool as it defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 this weekend. Nothing but a victory will do this week when Liverpool faces Standard Liege, if Liverpool wants to advance in the Champions League. Premiership action returns over the weekend when Liverpool takes on Aston Villa.

16. Barcelona (Esp) (16) – Will Barcelona improve upon last season’s disappointing third-place finish? If so, by how much? We’re getting to the time to start getting answers. Barcelona should face little competition from Wisla Krakow in Champions League qualifiers this week and, perhaps, even less against Numancia this weekend as it starts off its Primera Division season.

17. Ajax (Ned) (17) – The Eredivisie is about to start and for Ajax, it begins against Willem II Tiburg on Saturday.

18. Celtic (Sco) (18) – Celtic has looked good in this young season, defeating Falkirk 3-0 this weekend. The match that everybody looks forward to takes place this weekend as the next page in the Celtic – Rangers Glasgow derby is written.

19. Schalke 04 (Ger) (20) – Drawing 1-1 with Werder Bremen, in Bremen, is not an easy accomplishment. Schalke’s big match of the week takes place in Spain, where Schalke takes its 1-0 lead into the away match of its Champions League qualifier against Atletico de Madrid. On Saturday, Schalke takes on VfL Bochum in Bundesliga action.

20. Boca Juniors (Arg) (NR) – With a 2-1 come from behind victory against Lanus, Boca Juniors returns to the Top 25. Boca takes on Arsenal this week in the home match of the Recopa Sudamericana, where it holds a 3-1 lead. In domestic action next weekend, Boca will take on Huracan.

21. Bordeaux (Fra) (21) – Bordeaux defeated Nantes 2-0 this weekend in Ligue Un action. Next weekend, Bordeaux’s opponent will be Lille.

22. Palmeiras (Bra) (25) – With a 4-2 victory over Portuguesa this weekend, Palmeiras moves into second place in the Brasileiro Serie A and to within five points of Gremio. Palmeiras will take on Atletico Paranaense this coming weekend.

23. Fiorentina (Ita) (22) – Fiorentina looks to reach the promised land this week as it takes its 2-0 lead to Prague to face Slavia with a Champions League group stage spot on the line. On Sunday, Fiorentina will host Juventus in both clubs’ opening Serie A match.

24. Everton (Eng) (24) – Everton took care of business this weekend, defeating West Bromwich Albion 2-1. Everton will host Portsmouth, who already has taken on Chelsea and Manchester United, this weekend.

25. AC Milan (Ita) (25) – Milan has a lot to prove this season, like proving that it shouldn’t be ranked this low, but it has had little opportunity to prove much yet. Milan can start proving things this weekend in Serie A when they host Bologna.

Bubbling Under (alphabetically): Atletico de Madrid (Esp), Cruzeiro (Bra), Hamburger (Ger), Rangers (Sco), Sevilla (Esp)

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Note from Joe J… C’Mon Rangers don’t let the shirt lifters beat you!