Taking into consideration recent domestic and continental results, along with underlying stats, we try to figure out which clubs are among Europe’s elite.

1. Manchester City (1st in Premier League)

Previous rank: 2nd

Manchester City climbs back to first in our rankings after picking up a solid 3-0 win over West Brom, drawing Burnley 1-1, and then resoundingly demolishing Leicester City 5-1 over the last two weeks, resulting in a 16-point gap atop the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s side is firing on all cylinders, much to the benefit of Sergio Aguero, who has emerged as a Golden Boot contender after his four-goal performance against the Foxes.

2. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

Previous rank: 1st

Barcelona remains unchallenged atop La Liga, but stumbled in back-to-back draws with Espanyol and Getafe in league play over these last couple weeks, opening the door for City to reclaim the top spot in our rankings. Though the Blaugrana ought to be pleased with a berth in the Copa del Rey final, Ernesto Valverde will hope his players can find their scoring feet again: Barcelona has found the back of the net just four times in its last four matches.

3. Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous rank: 3rd

PSG remains third, though the margin between the top four is quite narrow. A quartet of victories in these last two weeks assured the French outfit its spot in the top three, though a pair of red cards in as many matches will be somewhat concerning for Unai Emery. In Ligue 1, the Parisians are unrivaled, enjoying a 12-point gap atop the table, but a date with Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 might prove to be the year’s make-or-break moment.

4. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous rank: 4th

What can we really say about Bayern Munich? This team just knows how to win, and that’s all they did in these last two weeks. The Bundesliga race is now all but over, with Bayern boasting a massive 18-point gap over second-placed RB Leipzig, and Jupp Heynckes’ side will also be pretty confident of advancing past Besiktas in the Champions League. Things are good in Bavaria.

5. Napoli (1st in Serie A)

Previous rank: 5th

It may just be a one-point lead atop the Serie A table, but for Napoli, it’s as precious a treasure as can be imagined. Maurizio Sarri’s side enjoyed a pair of victories to ensure that marginal advantage over Juventus, with a 4-1 win over third-placed Lazio preventing any twists in the Scudetto race. The only question Napoli faces is of sustainability – can they keep it up?

6. Juventus (2nd in Serie A)

Previous rank: 7th

Not far behind Napoli – and rightfully so – is Juventus, who picked up a pair of victories this week to keep pace for the Italian title. An emphatic 7-0 rout of poor Sassuolo set the stage for a solid 2-0 victory over Fiorentina, so there’s little to complain of from this latest stretch of fixtures. What Massimiliano Allegri needs now is for Napoli to slip up: Juventus’ consistency is its advantage.

7. Atletico Madrid (2nd in La Liga)

Previous rank: 9th

A pair of 1-0 wins over Valencia and Malaga sees Atletico Madrid move within seven points of first-placed Barcelona in La Liga and up another couple spots in our rankings. While there are certainly questions regarding the potency of Diego Simeone’s attacking ranks, there are none regarding the team’s defensive efficiency: Atletico has conceded just nine times in 23 league matches, the fewest of any team in the top five European leagues.

8. Real Madrid (4th in La Liga)

Previous rank: 12th

Real Madrid is hoping its fortunes are finally changing for the better, and while a 10-point gap behind Atletico is less than ideal, Zinedine Zidane’s side is starting to look threatening once again. Perhaps the Champions League will be the primary focus, as Los Blancos still haven’t shaken their poor league form, as evidenced in a 2-2 draw with Levante. Still, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. turned it around with a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad right afterward.

9. Tottenham Hotspur (4th in Premier League)

Previous rank: 14th

Tottenham will be quite pleased with the results of its efforts over these last two weeks, having taken points from three Premier League giants while also dispatching Newport County in the FA Cup. A 2-2 draw with Liverpool came with some controversy, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side left no doubts of merit in beating Manchester United 2-0 and Arsenal 1-0 in league play.

10. Manchester United (2nd in Premier League)

Previous rank: 6th

It’s been a rough few weeks for Manchester United. The Red Devils dropped a crucial tilt with Tottenham, then turned it around with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, only to lose to Newcastle on Sunday. Inconsistency is the main problem Jose Mourinho faces at Old Trafford, though his next league match is against Chelsea, and presents a chance to make something of a statement.

11. FC Porto (1st in Primeira Liga)

Previous rank: 13th

Still undefeated in league play, FC Porto is starting to turn heads, and for good reason: the Dragoes sit atop the Primeira Liga table, having dispatched both Chaves and Braga in league action in recent days. Porto will also enjoy a round of 16 matchup with Liverpool in the Champions League, where Sergio Conceicao’s men might just surprise a few onlookers.

12. Liverpool (3rd in Premier League)

Previous rank: N/R

Those ol’ defensive issues once again plagued Liverpool against Tottenham, but they were nowhere to be seen as the Reds dispatched Huddersfield Town and Southampton on either end of that 2-2 draw. As a result, Jurgen Klopp’s side sits pretty in third in the Premier League, and has also returned to our rankings after dropping out last time around.

13th. Chelsea (5th in Premier League)

Previous rank: 8th

Back-to-back losses against Bournemouth and Watford spell the story of a Chelsea team in a bit of momentary turmoil, and manager Antonio Conte is facing the music as a result. Does he deserve it? He reckons not, but it won’t make a bit of difference unless the Blues can turn it around and pick up wins. Unfortunately for Conte, the last two Chelsea managers were sacked after losing to West Brom, and that’s who his team faces next. No pressure.

14. AS Monaco (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous rank: N/R

Last time around, Lyon made enough of a splash to warrant a spot in our top 15, but AS Monaco quickly reversed that inclination by twice defeating Bruno Genesio’s side – as well as holding Marseille to a 2-2 draw – to regain second in Ligue 1. Leonardo Jardim will be pleased with his team’s offensive potency, as Monaco reached the 60-goal mark for the season by scoring thrice against Lyon in a 3-2 win, before adding four more in a 4-0 win over Angers.

15. PSV Eindhoven (1st in Eredivisie)

Previous rank: 15th

Three consecutive victories in league play keeps PSV among Europe’s elite, though an eliminating loss to Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup quarter-finals isn’t quite as nice. Still, Phillip Cocu’s side keeps a seven-point gap over Ajax in the Eredivisie standings, which might only be narrowed in April when the two sides meet for a second league tilt in Eindhoven.

On the cusp: Marseille, Arsenal, Internazionale, Sevilla, Benfica, AEK Athens

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

Champions League draw: Real Madrid paired with Paris Saint-Germain

Champions League draw: Real Madrid paired with Paris Saint-Germain

The Cyle Larin soap opera is nearing its final episode.

After the Canadian international striker was photographed in a Besiktas kit ahead of a medical in mid-January, Orlando City denied an agreement between the parties had been met.

The Lions appear to have conceded, with the MLS side releasing a statement Tuesday confirming an agreement with the Turkish league holder for an undisclosed fee.

Orlando didn’t pull any punches in its assessment of the move, saying, “Although the Club was disappointed with the unacceptable behavior of the athlete and his representatives, a decision was taken to guarantee compensation with the Club’s future in mind.”

“The Club looks forward to focusing on the upcoming season with staff and players who honor and respect the strong values of the Club and commitment to our community to lead us through 2018 and beyond.”

Besiktas has yet to comment on the matter, with Larin, 22, set to join fellow Canadian Atiba Hutchinson in Senol Gunes’ third-placed side.

Taking into consideration recent domestic and continental results, along with underlying stats, we try to figure out which clubs are among Europe’s elite.

1. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

Previous rank: 1st

Lionel Messi had an average showing against Alaves … in that he only scored once, and it was a game-winning free-kick, and it was beautiful. But that’s just how it goes at Barcelona, which leads La Liga and the rest of Europe on the back of solid, consistent form and the sort of talent other teams just don’t boast. The Blaugrana only got stronger with the addition of Philippe Coutinho. – AB.

2. Manchester City (1st in Premier League)

Previous rank: 2nd

Manchester City’s defence appeared a little shell-shocked following the mid-January defeat in Liverpool. Oft-toothless Newcastle United bagged a goal at the Etihad Stadium, and Bristol City scored two against Pep Guardiola’s throng despite firing blanks in the Championship. Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup win at Cardiff City was a return to form, though, with the Premier League leader blending rhythmic attacks with controlled aggression. – DR

3. Paris Saint-Germain (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous rank: 3rd

PSG suffered a bit of a setback in a 2-1 loss to Lyon, but it’ll take much more than that to unseat the Ligue 1 giant from the top of the table. An 8-0 win over Dijon as well as a 4-0 drubbing of Montpellier sees Unai Emery’s side sit pretty with an 11-point gap at the top of the table, though PSG has a game in hand on second-placed Lyon. If Edinson Cavani keeps up his record-shattering goal-scoring form, it’s hard to see PSG dropping out of our top five, either. – AB

4. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous rank: 4th

Sixteen points separate Bayern Munich from the Bundesliga’s chasing pack, but the Bavarian club is keeping things interesting. Mark Uth and Serge Gnabry scored before Bayern roared back with five unanswered goals against Hoffenheim on Saturday. And with three goals and an assist in his last two outings, Robert Lewandowski is single-handedly ruining new arrival Sandro Wagner’s hopes of being a starter for Germany at the World Cup. – DR

5. Napoli (1st in Serie A)

Previous rank: 8th

Sitting pretty atop the Serie A table, Napoli enjoyed a 1-0 win against Atalanta and a 3-1 win over Bologna to keep Juventus at bay. As a result, the new title challenger leapfrogs above the Old Lady in our rankings as well. Dries Mertens continues adding to his scoring tally and has 13 to his name in Serie A this season – a commendable return for the Belgian forward. – AB

6. Manchester United (2nd in Premier League)

Previous rank: 10th

Jose Mourinho has little to complain about over the last couple of weeks, as Manchester United easily dispatched Burnley 1-0, then burned Yeovil Town in a 4-0 victory, all while adding Alexis Sanchez to its ranks in the winter transfer window. The Red Devils are now even stronger, and while the Premier League title is still out of reach, confidence is growing at Old Trafford. – AB

7. Juventus (2nd in Serie A)

Previous rank: 7th

It’s business as usual at Juventus, which dispatched Genoa 1-0 and Chievo Verona 2-0 in the last couple weeks to keep pace with Napoli at the top of the table in Serie A. While the Old Lady isn’t enjoying its usual dominance atop the pile, the team remains defensively sound and offensively potent, and is transitioning from Gianluigi Buffon by starting Wojciech Szczesny. – AB

8. Chelsea (3rd in Premier League)

Previous rank: 12th

It’s been a mixed bag for Chelsea over the last two weeks, with a 4-0 win over Brighton setting the stage for a proper showing against Arsenal in the League Cup, only for the Blues to lose 2-1. Antonio Conte’s side was then held to a 1-1 score in the FA Cup replay with Norwich City, before finding form again in a 3-0 victory over Newcastle. Chelsea is still a dangerous team, and with movement around it, a bump up into the top 10 is fair, if somewhat unexpected. – AB

9. Atletico Madrid (2nd in La Liga)

Previous rank: 5th

Getting dumped out of the Copa del Rey with a pair of losses to Sevilla hurt Atletico Madrid this time around, as did a 1-1 draw with Girona. Diego Simeone won’t be pleased with the cup elimination, as a title challenge against Barcelona seems unlikely. As Diego Costa finds his feet in training, it is Fernando Torres who helped save the day against Las Palmas, where a 3-0 win helped correct course ever so slightly. – AB

10. Sevilla (6th in La Liga)

Previous rank: NR

Vincenzo Montella’s inability to meld the expensively assembled squad at AC Milan cost him his job, and he suffered the worst initiation possible when his new employer, Sevilla, lost 5-3 at home to bitter rival Real Betis on Jan. 6. Things have fared better since, with a two-legged 5-2 shunning of Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey being a particular highlight. – DR

11. Lyon (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous rank: NR

Outside the lavishly paid ranks at Paris Saint-Germain, there is one standout player in Ligue 1. Nabil Fekir helped dismantle Les Parisiens on Jan. 21, scoring a delicious free-kick after two minutes and laying it off for Memphis Depay for the emphatic 94th-minute winner. Lyon probably won’t win the French title, but the club is still in fine fettle after the summer losses of Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazette. Bruno Genesio deserves credit. – DR

12. Real Madrid (4th in La Liga)

Previous rank: NR

A 2-1 loss to Leganes saw Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid knocked out of the Copa del Rey, a setback the French tactician probably couldn’t afford to suffer, as Real sits fourth in La Liga, too. But that loss was sandwiched by a 7-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna and a 4-1 win over third-place Valencia, perhaps signalling something of a comeback for Real Madrid, who welcomed its infamous “BBC” strike-force back for the first time in 279 days, too. – AB

13. FC Porto (1st in Primeira Liga)

Previous rank: NR

Still undefeated in league play, FC Porto has won its last five matches in a row and remains in the Champions League hunt against a Liverpool team that has repeatedly demonstrated a weakness in defending. Luckily, Porto can rely on its backline, having conceded just nine goals in league play, which should help stave off the Reds’ attack while keeping hope alive for a surprise victory. – AB

14. Tottenham Hotspur (5th in Premier League)

Previous rank: 9th

There’s something lacking at Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino’s substitutions are sometimes too late and ill-advised, Dele Alli is yet to reach the heights of the previous two terms, and Mousa Dembele’s talents sadly appear to be dwindling. Christian Eriksen’s absence is the obvious deficiency, though, and it’s no coincidence the Dane was missing from draws at Southampton and lowly Newport County. – DR

15. PSV Eindhoven (1st in Eredivisie)

Previous rank: 15th

PSV wasn’t convincing in Saturday’s win at FC Twente. The relegation-threatened side should’ve equalised or even gone ahead after Hirving Lozano’s nodded opener, but instead fell to a 2-0 scoreline which flattered PSV when Santiago Arias nicked another in the final moments. Despite the off-colour performance, Phillip Cocu’s side was able to stretch a seven-point lead atop the Eredivisie after Ajax drew at FC Utrecht a day later. – DR

On the cusp: Arsenal, Galatasaray, Lazio, Liverpool, Lokomotiv Moscow

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)