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Real regains lead Euro champ takes over as Champions League takes off
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- One day before it begins the defense of its European title, Spain's Real Madrid returns to the No. 1 spot in the CNN/World Soccer Top 10, the unique ranking of football clubs determined each Monday through voting by correspondents from CNN Sports and World Soccer magazine. Including Real Madrid, eight teams from the Top 10 will be in action Tuesday and Wednesday in Champions League group play. The defending champions rose one spot this week after a 2-1 win over Valencia, opening the Spanish season with a rematch of last year's all-Spanish Champions League final. Real got a goal from record signing Luis Figo with five minutes to go and escaped with three points. The club faces Portugal's Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. Defending Italian league and cup champion Lazio rises six spots to No. 2 this week after cruising past Inter Milan in the Italian Supercup. Lazio plays Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in the Champions League, and Serie A action kicks off following the conclusion of the Olympic soccer tournament in Sydney. English champ Manchester United rises two spots to third after a strong run of form, winning its last two games by a combined score of 9-0. United embarrassed Bradford 6-0 last week before knocking off Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday. The Reds face Belgium's Anderlecht on Tuesday in Champions League action. German double champion Bayern Munich tumbles from the top spot to No. 4 this week following a 2-1 weekend loss to VfB Stuttgart. Bayern takes on Sweden's Helsingborg on Wednesday in the Champions League. Turkish and UEFA Cup champion Galatasaray falls two spots to No. 5 after losing to Samsunspor in domestic action ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Monaco. Staying steady at No. 6 is Argentina's Boca Juniors, after the Copa Libertadores champion defeated Belgrano 3-1. Spanish power Barcelona rejoins the Top 10 at No. 7 after beginning the new domestic season with a 2-1 win over Malaga, thanks to two goals from Brazilian star Rivaldo. The Catalan giants kick off their European campaign Wednesday against England's Leeds United. Argentina's River Plate comes in at No. 8 this week after a 4-1 win over Talleres on Sunday. River has five wins and a draw to lead the Argentine league after six matches. Rounding out the list in a tie for ninth are France's Paris St. Germain and Leeds, which drops five spots after two straight Premier League losses. New signing Nicolas Anelka scored twice to help PSG bounce back from a 5-3 thrashing at Troyes earlier in the week with a 5-1 win over 10-man St Etienne on Saturday. Dropping out of the Top 10 are Brazil's Fluminense, Spain's Valencia and Italy's AC Milan.
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