Some discussion on here about us being top 3, who is better, etc. As Barca fans, we have had the luxury of being the undisputed best team in the world, for a very long time. Even when Bayern thrashed the life out of us, there were many out there, saying it was just a blip, and that next year we will still be the team to beat. As the team has undergone changes and decline of certain key players, it's clear we have ceded that title to Bayern. That awe factor is fading away season after season, but when Barca plays a big team, you still hear the commentators talk about how X Y Z are going to fare against the mighty Catalans.
I think saying we are in the top 3, or top 4, at this point in time, can be a bit misleading. A couple of seasons back, the hierarchy was very clear. Barca atop, Madrid and Bayern just below (Dortmund too in that particular season), and then you had the Chelseas and Citys forming the cluster below.I think right now, you would say RM and Bayern sit at the top and should be considered favourite for any game. After that, IMHO, it's more even, with teams like Chelsea Barca City PSG Atletico etc. all sitting behind the big 2, and you would fancy anybody beating anybody. We aren't the automatic favourites anymore. The only factor here is because we have Messi, we will ALWAYS be considered a BIG threat to any team out there, irrespective of form, position, recent results, etc.