Manchester United top Premier League trio in European team form rankings

In the first team form rankings of the New Year, with all five of Europe’s top leagues now back in action, we reveal the biggest risers and fallers in this week’s top ten.

10) Manchester City (up 5) - 6.99

After a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield last time out, Manchester City regain their place in the top ten by the skin of their teeth. That’s four wins on the bounce for Pep Guardiola’s side as they bid to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

9) Tottenham (non mover) - 7.00

After an unconvincing late win at Fulham, Tottenham keep their place in ninth but with injuries mounting they risk slipping down the rankings before long, with 6-2 and 5-0 wins over Everton and Bournemouth will soon no longer come into consideration.

8) Rennes (down 4) - 7.04

Having failed to return to winning ways at the weekend, playing out a 0-0 draw with Montpellier, Rennes drop four places. It was, however, the fifth clean sheet Julian Stephan’s side have kept in their last six matches, with four wins in that time ensuring they keep their place on the leaderboard for now.

7) Manchester United (down 4) - 7.05

Also down four places, United secured another win at the weekend but their matches have been a lot tighter of late. The 2-1 win over Brighton kept their winning streak alive nonetheless, and a favourable run of fixtures awaits ahead of a huge clash with Liverpool next month.

6) Atalanta (up 15) - 7.08

The highest risers this week, climbing 15 places, Atalanta have followed an excellent draw against Juventus with 6-2 and 5-0 wins over Sassuolo and Frosinone respectively. Having started the season with just one win in eight, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are just three points off the top four.

5) Juventus (up 2) - 7.08

Restarting the season as they began in August, Juventus overcame Chievo, but in significantly more straightforward fashion. The Old Lady secured a 3-0 victory, keeping their seventh clean sheet in their last nine matches and dropping just two points in that time.

4) Atletico Madrid (up 2) - 7.16

Like Juve, Atleti earned a 3-0 win over the league’s bottom club at the weekend and they too, in turn, kept a fourth clean sheet in six matches. They’ve won five of said games to keep the pressure on Barcelona at the top of what is surely a two-horse race in La Liga.

3) Bayern Munich (down 1) - 7.18

Speaking of two-horse title races, that looks to be the case in the Bundesliga once more with Bayern winning for a sixth successive game to keep Dortmund within reach. The 3-1 win at Hoffenheim leaves the Bavarians goal difference in that winning streak at +14, conceding just twice.

2) Paris Saint-Germain (up 6) - 7.21

After a string of unconvincing displays to end 2018, PSG have started the New Year, in frightening form as far as the rest of liege 1 is concerned. They may have been up against bottom club Guingamp at the weekend but a 9-0 win was still outrageously good, though not quite enough to claim top spot.

1) Barcelona (non mover) - 7.23

Winning a seventh consecutive league game on Sunday, with a 3-1 victory over Leganes, Barcelona retain top spot having scored 19 goals in their last six and conceded just twice. With a five-point gap at the top and a further five back to Real Madrid in third, it’s been a run that could ensure they keep their crown.