It is a debate that has raged since the beginning of time - or at least it seems like it.
Who is the bigger club - Cardiff City or Swansea City?
Whether or not you take that argument seriously, statistics website FiveThirtyEight have ranked how 634 international club teams compare by Soccer Power Index.
The rankings are updated after each match, therefore it is not really an indication of club stature, rather a reflection of how each side is doing at that particular time.
So how is it worked out?
Researchers produced a Soccer Power Index (SPI) which provides teams with an offensive and defensive rating.
They then combine the two together to give an average score and rank how likely the team would be to win against an average team on a neutral field.
Before a season begins, a team’s SPI ratings are based on two factors: its ratings at the end of the previous season, and its market value as calculated by German football site Transfermarkt.
You can read exactly how it all works here .
The top 10 reads as Man City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Barcelona, PSG, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Juventus and Dortmund.
City and Liverpool are riding high after their Premier League and Champions League victories, while Manchester United and Arsenal are further down in 17th and 18th respectively.
What about the Bluebirds and Swans?
You have to scroll a fair way down the list to find them.
Cardiff sit 160th, with their South Wales rivals in 165th place, surrounded by teams such as Metz, Molde, Frosinone and Brondby.
It will be an interesting configuration to monitor over the course of the season.
You can read the full list here.
