7 surprise clubs you might not have noticed genuinely face relegation battles this season

We’re a quarter of the way into the 2018-19 season and there are already a number of top clubs seemingly in trouble of relegation.

Clubs as big as Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen have all had troubled starts to their domestic seasons, and although they have time to turn it around, the signs aren’t great.

Here are seven clubs you may not have noticed are battling to stay up.

1. Monaco – 19th

Previous finish: 2nd

Monaco, who last won the league as recently as the 2016/17 season, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League that same year, are in serious danger of relegation.

Thierry Henry took over the reins at the principality club in October but has been unable to win in six games in all competitions, losing his most recent match in charge at home to PSG 4-0.

Prior to the former Arsenal man taking charge, Monaco had won just once in the league.

Henry is currently navigating his first full managerial role with a lengthy injury list, with Nacer Chadli the latest to join a beleaguered pile of Monaco players out of action.

Next week’s tie against Caen, who are five points above them, is crucial for the future of Henry and the club.

2. Athletic Bilbao – 17th

Previous finish: 16th

Bilbao are winless in 11 games, equalling their worst winless run that occurred in 2005.

The Spanish club are currently on 10 points, having drawn seven games and lost four. They have a goal difference of -6.

Manager Eduardo Berizzo seems unable to turn the course of a club that’s won the Spanish top tier eight times in its 120-year history.

3. Villareal – 16th

Previous finish: 5th

Villareal are in danger of the drop this year, just one spot above Bilbao at present after 12 games.

With just 11 points, the perennial top 8 finishers are looking over their shoulder as opposed to up the table.

Boss Javier Calleja admitted he may be sacked following Villareal’s 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano.

The Yellow Submarine have won just once in their last 10 games across all competitions.

4. Schalke – 14th

Previous finish: 2nd

Schalke, who have been in the Bundesliga since 1992, have only managed 11 points after 11 league games.

The German club lost its first five games and have only won three Bundesliga matches so far this term.

With key forward Breel Embolo confirmed to have fractured his foot, Domenico Tedesco has his work cut out to turn the fortunes of the Gelsenkirchen club around.

5. Bayer Leverkusen – 13th

Previous finish: 5th

One spot beneath last season’s runners up Schalke, Bayer Leverkusen have been particularly poor so far considering the strength of their young squad.

However all’s not lost; Bayer’s 6-2 victory over Bremen at the end of last month showed what they can do when everyone pulls together.

Since then, though, they have lost back-to-back league matches. Manager Heiko Herrlich needs a quick turnaround or he could face the axe.

6. Chievo – 20th 

Previous finish: 13th 

Chievo look dead certain to be relegated to Serie B, having drawn three games and lost a staggeringly poor nine in 12 matches.

Most recent manager and ex-Italy boss Gian Piero Ventura has quit, such is the current downward momentum for the Verona-based team.

Next up for Chievo is Napoli away – the Naples team is currently second behind Juventus.

7. Udinese – 17th 

Previous finish: 14th 

The Italian club have lost seven times, drawn three and won two so far after 12 matches.

Udinese haven’t won since September 23, when they beat who else but fellow strugglers, Chievo.

Coming up for Udinese is a home game against Roma; the club will need to achieve more draws and wins soon or risk relegation along with Chievo.

The post 7 surprise clubs you might not have noticed genuinely face relegation battles this season appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2QEJSmC