Alan Pardew admits Newcastle United are in a relegation battle after their second worst start to an English Premier League season 10 years.

Newcastle have just 14 points from 14 matches played the last time they boasted such a poor tally at this stage of the season was back 2008/09, the season they were relegated.

And with matches against both Manchester clubs coming up, along with a trip to Arsenal and the visit of Everton to St James Park, things do not look likely to get any easier for Pardew s men.

Asked if it was too early to say his side were being pushed into a relegation battle, the Newcastle boss said: Well, we are now, and no, it s not too early.

But despite the difficult position the team find themselves in, Pardew believes they have what it …

Roberto Martinez revealed he chose to stay at Wigan because he intends to build a legacy at the club.

The manager was heavily linked in the off-season with a move to Liverpool, who Wigan face on Saturday at Anfield.

Martinez explained he rejected an approach from Aston Villa before the start of last season out of loyalty, but admitted he considered leaving the club this summer before opting to stay with the aim of leaving a long-term impression.

I had an agreement of three years with my chairman, who has been loyal and supportive. I had the opportunity to pay back that loyalty after my second season here. The third year was the time to think what it was he wanted to do, he said.

I wanted certain things done internally for me to stay. That meant investi…

Assistant coach Jordi Roura will take temporary charge of Barcelona s first team, with Tito Vilanova set to undergo surgery.

Roura, who came through the club s La Masia youth system as a player, will take over the day-to-day running of the side while Vilanova undergoes treatment.

Roura began his career at Camp Nou, and then became a coach in Japan with Yokohama Flugels before moving on to Terrassa FC until 2007.

The 45-year-old then moved on to L Hospitalet in the Spanish third tier, before he joined Pep Guardiola s technical staff at Barca in 2009, charged with analysing opposition sides.

Following Guardiola s departure in June and Vilanova s promotion to head coach Roura became Barca s assistant first-team coach.

Vilanova, who had surgery on a …

Holger Badstuber says Schalke are determined to ruin Bayern Munich s hopes of the treble when they meet in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

Carlo Ancelotti s side maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with an 8-0 demolition of Hamburg on Saturday, while their place in quarter-finals of the Champions League looks all but assured after their 5-1 last-16 first-leg win over Arsenal.

Bayern have won six of their eight matches since their return from Germany s mid-season break, and talk of challenging to replicate the treble won in 2012-13 has been growing given their recent performances.

But Badstuber, on loan at Schalke from Bayern for the remainder of the season, says Markus Weinzierl s side are looking to halt those ambitions in the last-eight en…

Olivier Giroud believes Arsenal already have a strong enough squad to mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

Arsenal sit top of the table and moved two points clear of Leicester City with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, but critics have suggested the squad lacks the depth required to be crowned champions for the first time since 2003-04.

Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny is close to joining Arsene Wenger s side, but the French striker has refuted claims they also need a striker though the coach has admitted he will be busy during the January transfer window.

Tell me where [we need players]. Just tell me where! I will explain the opposite judgement, Giroud said.

We have very good players as well on the bench, young players waiting to …

Jurgen Klopp acknowledged Liverpool are enduring a tough run but insisted performances have not been as bad as results suggest.

The defending Premier League champions are top of the table again but have won just two of their past six matches – and two of seven in all competitions.

Rivals Manchester United, who have a game in hand, have moved level on points with the Reds at the summit ahead of the two sides meeting next weekend.

We were not waiting for [this run of form] and we do not enjoy it, but it s not unlikely that these kinds of things happen, Klopp told a news conference on Thursday.

I think we only won two of the last six – that s not the standard we expect from ourselves, obviously.

So, we don t take it easy, but we still see what…

Giorgio Chiellini was happy for Lionel Messi to win this year s Ballon d Or, but the Juventus defender blasted the theft that meant Cristiano Ronaldo missed out in 2018.

Barcelona star Messi claimed the prize for a record sixth time on Monday, beating Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Ronaldo.

It came a year after Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric ended the 10-year dominance of Messi and Ronaldo, but it was that decision that upset Chiellini.

It s OK the Ballon d Or for Messi this year, the Juve captain told Sky Sport Italia at the Gran Gala del Calcio awards in Milan on Monday.

The real theft was last year. Real Madrid decided that Cristiano should not win the Ballon d Or. It was really strange.

Chiellini added: Real didn t want him to w…

Atletico Madrid scored four times in 13 second-half minutes to win 7-0 at Rayo Vallecano to move second in the LaLiga table.

Atletico were 3-0 up inside 36 minutes as goals from Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay and Nahuel Molina effectively ended the game as a contest against Rayo, who had previously won their opening two games of the season.

Alvaro Morata scored twice as Diego Simeone’s side put their hosts to the sword in the final 20 minutes, with Angel Correa and Marcos Llorente also on target to move Atletico two points behind Real Madrid at the top.

Starting the week off right

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)

Elsewhere an 84th-minute penalty from Borja Mayoral sealed a 1-0 win for Getafe at home to Alaves.

Denzel Dumfries…

Didier Deschamps has told his France players to end their year of mixed fortunes on a high note as the World Cup holders attempt to seal their Qatar 2022 place.

A dismal Euro 2020 effort, where pre-tournaments favourites France were knocked out in round two by Switzerland, was followed in October by Les Bleus winning the Nations League.

Now they can make sure of a return to the biggest stage as the final internationals of the year loom. France have a home game against Kazakhstan on November 13 and go away to Finland three days later. If they beat Kazakhstan, their place in next year s finals will be secure.

Deschamps wants that put to bed as soon as possible, saying: You know what happened this summer, with our early elimination at the Euros. That didn t stop us…

MLS leaders Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by state rivals Orlando City on Wednesday, as they failed to spark in Lionel Messi s absence.

Messi was missing from the squad due to a knee injury, and Miami were unable to extend their winning run to six MLS games without their superstar.

Indeed, other than a few Luis Suarez attempts, Orlando had the better of the chances at Inter Co Stadium.

Yutaro Tsukada might have won it for Orlando on his debut, but the substitute sliced off target late on.

Miami are a point clear of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, and Gerardo Martino will hope to have Messi back for the Herons clash with D.C. United.

Points shared a clean sheet on the road

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF)

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