Oldest football club faces permanent relegation; Sports roundup

The last 16 first-leg game at the Bernabeu pits old adversaries Mourinho and Alex Ferguson head to head and Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo faces his former club.

The plot-lines are rich and Mourinho, who once famously danced a jig of joy along the Old Trafford touchline when his Porto side got the better of United, seemed genuinely excited to be part of the showpiece occasion.

"We have to feel very privileged to play this match," Mourinho, who sat in the directors' box as United opened up a 12-point lead in the Premier League with victory over Everton, told MUTV.

"People think we're under pressure because one of the big teams will soon be out of the biggest competition.

"But Real Madrid and Manchester United staff, as well as the players, feel privileged. It's the kind of match you want to play and we have to prepare as best we can.

"It's such a big match," added the Portuguese. "Everybody wants to play. Nobody will be tired. It's a match the world is waiting for. They are not waiting for other matches in the Champions League. So I hope we can give the world of football what they're waiting for."

Ferguson has rarely got the better of Mourinho, winning just two of the matches when they have sat in opposing dugouts, but clearly has plenty of time for the former Chelsea manager.

"I had a chat with Jose before the game, he was in good form," Ferguson said. "We're both looking forward to the game on Wednesday. It'll be terrific."

That explained the 39-year-old's steely calm after helping his side open up a 12-point gap over Manchester City in the Premier League yesterday with a 2-0 home win over Everton.

The evergreen 39-year-old Welshman's goal meant he has now scored in each of the 21 seasons since the Premier League began and such was his contribution that there seems no reason why he will not play into his fifth decade.

First, however, there is United's 20th title to clinch and after watching City steal it in the final seconds of last season, there is an extra determination to make sure the crown is returned to the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

United have won 12 of their last 14 games in the Premier League, drawing the other two, and they look unstoppable.

"We've been in really good form and we've got players on the bench or not even getting on the bench who would walk into any other team," Giggs told Sky Sports.

"The squad we've got at the moment is really strong and we've got to keep that up until the end of the season.

"We've got enough experience in the squad but you never take anything for granted. We've just got to keep playing well.

"The strength of the squad should see us there if everyone stays fit. But you never know what happens. You've just got to concentrate and do our job."

The 24-year-old, who also scored the winner in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, struck after 40 minutes when the ball bounced off a defender and into his path as he advanced on goal.

Mba flicked it over defender Mohamed Koffi then reacted quickest to score with his other foot low into the corner of goalkeeper Daouda Diakite's net for a contender for goal of the tournament.

Underdogs Burkina Faso, in the final for the first time, seemed over-awed by the occasion, which was played out in front of a near 90,000 capacity crowd, until the last 20 minutes when they threw everything forward in search of an equaliser.

But Nigeria with John Obi Mikel superb in midfield and Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile dominant at the back always held the upper hand.

The victory meant Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi became only the second man to win the tournament as player and coach. It was a third African title for Nigeria and their first since Keshi captained them to victory in 1994.

Blatter said he was surprised that UEFA, headed by Michel Platini who is a possible rival for the FIFA presidency in two years' time, had declared itself against key proposals from FIFA's reform working party the Independent Governance Committee (IGC).

UEFA, in a declaration last month, rejected a proposal to limit FIFA executive committee members to two four-year mandates and called for the FIFA president to serve a maximum of 12 years instead of the eight put forward by the IGC.

Blatter, who was in South Africa for the African Nations Cup final, said it was UEFA's job to consult their national associations, not to issue their own declaration on the proposals.

"The reform process is on the way to conclusion," he told a media round-table meeting. "Two parts have been implemented by Congress: the establishment of an independent ethics committee and the fact Congress and not the executive committee will choose future World Cup hosts.

"Now there are 10 or 11 other points that have to be dealt with by the next FIFA Congress in Mauritius in May. So I'm surprised by the reaction of UEFA, because the executive committee told the confederations they should consult their national associations about the reforms and what they think about the last part of the amendments to the statutes.

"And I'm surprised because it did not seem like a consultation, it seemed like was decision-making from UEFA where the national associations have signed a declaration against this.

"The idea was that at the FIFA Congress, all national associations have the right to speak on the amendments in favour or against. We have asked the confederations to make consultations, we have not asked them to make decisions.

"If all the Confederations make decisions, what is the point of the FIFA Congress?"

Blatter was also angry that UEFA appeared to take a stand against security checks FIFA wants to introduce for anyone being elected to the executive committee, following a series of high-profile scandals involving FIFA officials.

"What is important to me, and I will defend it, is that all members of FIFA shall have a scrutiny check, because everyone working somewhere has one. All the referees and linesmen on the FIFA list have to have one and sign a document which is recognised by their national association.

"So if it is good enough for FIFA referees, why should it not be the same for the FIFA executive committee and all the members of FIFA? Why is UEFA now against this? I don't understand it."

Last week the IGC, headed by Mark Pieth, a professor in criminal law, said it was disappointed that UEFA was trying "to dilute the thrust of the reform".

Blatter, 77 next month, declined on Sunday, not for the first time, to say that he would definitely stand down as president when his term of office ends in 2015.

Blatter was elected FIFA president in 1998 and will complete four terms of office in 2015.

Asked what his plans were, he replied: "As far as 2015 is concerned, no-one can see into the future but I will fight for the reform of FIFA and I will fight to keep what FIFA is now, a federation of national associations and not a holding of confederations (who make decisions). I will fight that until the last day of my mandate in 2015.

"My mandate ends in 2015, if God gives me my health, and I know I have to stop but I don't know when I will stop."

"Unfortunately Paul had a very bad reaction to the detox and the clinic decided that as a precaution it was best to transfer him to hospital... where he went into intensive care so they could monitor him 24/7," Mabbutt told Sky Sports.

"I spoke to Paul's medical team this morning here in the UK, they have spoken to Paul and he's recovering from the situation and hopefully will be back into the clinic soon and continuing with his rehab," the former Tottenham captain added.

The 45-year-old Gascoigne, who has struggled with alcoholism since playing for clubs including Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers, had travelled to the U.S. willingly for treatment, his management company said this week.

"A lot of the time the media make him out to be a celebrity drunk," Mabbutt added. "That isn't the case - Paul has some serious illnesses that have to be addressed.

"He asked for help on Monday and by Monday afternoon he was on a plane out to Arizona to a clinic that specialises in dealing with Paul's specific problems."

Former England team mate Gary Lineker tweeted yesterday morning: "Gazza is struggling, Let's hope he can hang on in there."

The home side endured a nervous final few minutes after Ashley Westwood's 87th-minute own goal but they held on to climb above Reading in the relegation dogfight.

A turgid opening 45 minutes offered little opportunity for either side although Andreas Weimann somehow missed an open goal for Villa in the opening minutes after West ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had failed to gather Benteke's shot.

Benteke was the calmest person in the stadium as he rolled his spot kick into the net in the 74th minute after Mark Noble was adjudged to have fouled N'Zogbia.

Five minutes later N'Zogbia sent a sweetly-struck free kick curling past Jaaskelainen to give Villa breathing space.

Memories of Villa's recent failure to hang on to a 3-1 lead against Everton flooded back when the ball flicked off Westwood's head and looped over Brad Guzan.

West Ham piled forward in stoppage time and Guzan twice made important stops to preserve the three points for Villa.

Villa have 24 points from 26 games to sit just above the bottom three. Reading have 23, Wigan Athletic 21 and Queens Park Rangers prop up the table with 17.

Alexis Sanchez and David Villa made the most of a rare place in the starting lineup with goals either side of Messi's strike and Andres Iniesta, Cristian Tello and Gerard Pique were also on the scoresheet as Barca racked up a 20th victory in 23 matches this term to move on to 62 points.

Atletico Madrid have 50 points in second place ahead of their game at Rayo Vallecano later on Sunday (2000 GMT), four ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, who thrashed Sevilla 4-1 at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Barca's interim coach Jordi Roura, standing in for Tito Vilanova who is recovering from throat surgery, rested several key players for Getafe's visit to the Nou Camp, including Spain trio Pedro, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets.

Alexis struck in the sixth minute, Messi made it 2-0 seven minutes later and Villa put the game well beyond Getafe, who are 12th on 29 points, with a third just before the hour.

Messi surged forward and laid the ball off for substitute Tello to curl in a fourth 11 minutes from time before a mistake from Jordi Alba let in Alvaro Vazquez to pull a goal back for the visitors in the 83rd minute.

Iniesta picked up a loose ball and fired in from close range in the 90th and Pique rounded off the party in the second minute of added time with a tap-in from Thiago Alcantara's unselfish layoff.

"The club can state, unequivocally, that the business is completely up to date with all VAT and PAYE monies and that this action is regarded by the board as both disruptive and damaging," Notts County said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, we had no option other than to instruct legal counsel to represent us, but we fully expect this issue to be resolved in our favour once the judge has before him all the facts."

County, currently 11th in League One, said they would seek damages "for the harm suffered by the football club".

Chairman Ray Trew bought the club in 2010 when they narrowly avoided going into administration.

The Champions League last-16 first-leg tie in Glasgow is the fifth meeting between the proud old clubs and the first since 2001 when Celtic pulled off a shock.

Celtic, the lone Scottish rangers in the competition this season, beat Barcelona on a memorable night in Glasgow in the group phase and any disparity in the quality of the squads will be bridged by the roars of nearly 60,000 Glaswegians.

While the national team languishes bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and the Scottish Premier League is still reeling from the demotion of bankrupt giants Rangers, Celtic's run to the knockout rounds for the first time in five seasons has been nothing short of remarkable.

Barca midfielder Xavier described a packed Celtic Park as a "marvel" following his side's 2-1 defeat in November and former Juventus great Pavel Nedved knows what awaits the Serie A champions this week.

"I'm fully aware of the atmosphere that awaits us in Glasgow because I've been there and experienced it first hand," Nedved, now a Juve director, said.

"We'll be stepping into a lion's den and I don't think the team will need firing up. We'll have to tough it out."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon made 10 changes when his league leaders warmed up for the visit of Juve with a 3-1 victory at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

Ever since the draw for the last 16 was made, all eyes have been on February 12 and the Northern Irishman said the crowd would play a huge part.

"The players rested have been in great form for what will be a titanic game," he told the Glasgow Herald.

"I'm always optimistic going into games and the crowd will play a huge part.

"It's a two-game tie, so it won't be over no matter what happens on Tuesday. I want us to get a good foothold in the tie. Of course, we want to go to Italy with a lead.

"We want to be in a position where Juventus really have to knock on our door to try and win it and our away form has been healthy this season."

Antonio Conte's Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 to open up a five-point lead in Serie A before turning their attention to Celtic - a team they lost to on their most recent meeting when a side containing Nedved and Alessandro del Piero lost 4-3.

Keeper Gianluigi Buffon is the only survivor from that Juve team while new signing Nicolas Anelka, a veteran of many Champions League campaigns with Real Madrid and Chelsea, has warned his new team mates that they are in for a big test.

"What Celtic have going for them is no pressure," he said.

"For the team that nobody expects to win there is a freedom for the players in the way they approach the game and sometimes that is when you can play your best football.

"It will be a tough game in Glasgow. It is one of the most famous and intense football cities in the world."

Juventus have midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah back in the squad after African Nations Cup duty with Ghana but defender Paolo De Ceglie is not included because of a thigh injury.

Celtic, however, are unlikely to be able to call on Efe Ambrose after he helped Nigeria win the Nations Cup yesterday.

"He seems to think he will be back on Monday evening or the early hours of Tuesday; we will assess him and see how he is," Lennon told reporters. "It's difficult for me to think he will be in a starting position."

Probable team:

Celtic: 1-Fraser Forster; 23-Mikael Lustig, 6-Kelvin Wilson, 67-Victor Wanyama, 3-Emilio Izaguirre; 8-Scott Brown, 15-Kris Commons, 33-Beram Kayal, 21-Charlie Mulgrew; 9-Giorgos Samaras, 88-Gary Hooper.

Juventus: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 15-Andrea Barzagli, 19-Leonardo Bonucci, 4-Martin Caceres; 26-Stephan Lichtsteiner, 6-Paul Pogba, 23-Arturo Vidal, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 22-Kwadwo Asamoah; 12-Sebastian Giovinco, 9-Mirko Vucinic

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

The contrast is less than flattering for Valencia who, rather than splurging hundreds of millions of euros on top players, have been forced year-in year-out to sell leading performers like David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata.

They are now effectively owned by the Valencia government after the club's foundation was unable to keep up with payments on a bank loan guaranteed by the regional administration that was used to buy a stake in the club.

The club had debts of almost 400 million euros (338.5 million pounds) in the 2010-11 season, according to a recent study by an accounting professor at the University of Barcelona, and a new stadium under construction has been left half built.

Qatari-backed PSG, by contrast, have used their financial windfall to hire Champions League-winning Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and players such as Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Brazil defender Thiago Silva and Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.

According to the latest transfer review by Barcelona-based Prime Time Sport, the French club spent 249 million euros on players over the last four seasons, putting them fourth in the major European leagues behind Barcelona (278 million), Real Madrid (428 million) and Manchester City (442 million).

PSG are riding high at the top of Ligue 1 after Friday's 3-1 win at home to Bastia while Valencia are improving but still down in fifth place in La Liga and in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot next season.

Unlike last-16 counterpart Ancelotti, Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde did not rest key players at the weekend with captain Roberto Soldado, playmaker Ever Banega and winger Sofiane Feghouli featuring in Saturday's last-gasp 1-0 win at Celta Vigo.

Striker Nelson Valdez came off the bench and headed the winner in the third minute of added time as Valencia's form continued to pick up under Valverde who replaced the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino in December.

Probable teams:

Valencia: 1-Diego Alves; 12-Joao Pereira, 20-Ricardo Costa, 4-Adil Rami, 17-Andres Guardado; 24-Tino Costa, 21-Daniel Parejo; 8-Sofiane Feghouli, 7-Jonas, 10-Ever Banega; 9-Roberto Soldado

PSG: 30-Salvatore Sirigu; 26-Christophe Jallet, 13-Alex, 3-Mamadou Sakho, 17-Maxwell; 7-Jeremy Menez, 24-Marco Verratti, 14-Blaise Matuidi, 27-Javier Pastore; 11-Ezequiel Lavezzi, 18-Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)

The Italy forward won the penalty after being pulled down by Davide Astori and sent Michael Agazzi the wrong way to make it three goals in two games for fourth-placed Milan since his move from Manchester City.

Astori, already booked for a previous foul on Balotelli, was sent off as the Sicilians faded in the second half after dominating the opening 45 minutes and taking the lead with a Victor Ibarbo header.

Palermo and AS Roma, who fired their coaches after losing their previous games, both failed to win, while the Atalanta-Catania and Parma-Genoa games ended goalless.

Pablo Osvaldo missed a penalty for Roma in their 3-1 defeat at Sampdoria as they remained winless in the New Year.

Palermo stayed level on points at the bottom with Siena after drawing 1-1 to Pescara, who are also in the relegation zone.

Alberto Malesani, taking over as Palermo's third coach of the season following the dismissal of Gian Piero Gasperini, saw his side fall behind to a 73rd minute header by Birkir Bjarnason.

Diego Fabbrini, signed on loan from Udinese in January, levelled in the 80th minute for the Sicilians who have 18 points from 24 games, three behind Pescara who are 18th in the 20-team table.

Paraguay midfielder Marcelo Estigarribia gave Sampdoria the lead against Roma in the 55th minute as Aurelio Andreazzoli moved into the hot seat on an interim basis following the dismissal of old romantic Zdenek Zeman.

Osvaldo then won a penalty for Roma, insisted on taking it despite protests from the usual taker Francesco Totti and weakly sent it into the arms of Sergio Romero.

That was followed by three goals in five minutes as Gianluca Sansone curled in a free kick for Sampdoria, Erik Lamela volleyed one back and 19-year-old Argentine Mauro Icardi restored the two-goal lead with a header.

Siena drew 1-1 at Bologna after going ahead through Switzerland midfielder Innocent Emeghara. Panagiotis Kone replied for 15th placed-Bologna, both goals coming in an eight-minute spell before halftime.

Genoa's point kept them one point clear of the danger zone in 17th place.

Juventus, who beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Saturday, are top, five points clear of Napoli who drew 1-1 at third-placed Lazio, also on Saturday.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri described his team's result as "a useful point against a good team."

"Today, we had four players on the pitch who were born in 1992," he added.

Milan's match finally went ahead at the Sardinian club's Is Arena after being switched to Turin on safety grounds and then back to Cagliari again in the space of 48 hours last week.

The hosts had the better of the first half and went ahead when Colombia forward Ibarbo headed in from a free kick.

Milan took control in the second half and a goal was on the cards, finally arriving immediately after Agazzi kept out Robinho's shot with his foot and Balotelli was fouled as he tried to head in the rebound.

Balotelli scored a hugely controversial penalty deep into stoppage time in the 2-1 win over Udinese one week ago but this time the decision was more clearcut as Astori bundled him over, although the hosts still protested energetically.

Balotelli was then denied an injury-time winner when Agazzi brilliantly kept out his header, earning a congratulatory pat on the back from the fiery 22-year-old.

The unstoppable Gareth Bale earlier scored twice in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 home victory over Newcastle United while rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also won to add spice to the race for the Champions League spots.

Chelsea stayed third, a point ahead of Spurs and four behind City, after a 4-1 home success over third-bottom Wigan Athletic while 10-man Arsenal beat Sunderland 1-0 away thanks to Santi Cazorla's strike to leapfrog Everton into fifth.

Basement side Queens Park Rangers suffered a big blow in a 4-1 defeat at Swansea City but fourth-bottom Reading failed to increase the six-point gap with a 2-1 loss at Stoke City. Mid-table Norwich City and Fulham managed a goalless stalemate.

Southampton had previously managed two draws and a defeat since Argentine Pochettino replaced the sacked Nigel Adkins in an unpopular move, but their home victory over City was fully deserved even if the visitors gave them a big helping hand.

First Barry lost the ball in midfield after seven minutes and Jason Puncheon stormed forward before coolly finishing off a rebound after Hart's sprawling stop.

Hart, who saved a Ronaldinho penalty during an excellent display for England in a friendly against Brazil on Wednesday, then let a Rickie Lambert shot go through his legs and Steven Davis slid the ball in midway through the first period.

Roberto Mancini had been confidently predicting his side would make up the gap to United, like last season, but he looked stunned in the dugout as City struggled with midfielder Javi Garcia at centre back after Vincent Kompany was again ruled out.

A rampant break from the edge of their own area gave City hope in the 39th minute, with Edin Dzeko flicking the ball home while falling over after tremendous work by the Bosnian, David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta.

City fans have been used to great comebacks in recent times, not least when they beat QPR 3-2 in stoppage time on the final day last season to clinch the title, but this time there was to be incompetence rather than heroics.

A weak cross came in just after the break and, under no pressure, Barry decided to divert the ball towards Hart only to send it into the corner of the net with the keeper beaten.

"I think that's our best performance...and we got exactly what we deserved," Southampton captain Lambert told ESPN TV.

"We needed that (own goal) in the second half to open up the gap and give us some breathing space."

Latvian Artjoms Rudnevs and South Korea international Son Heung-min each scored twice as Hamburg ended Dortmund's run of four wins, with both teams reduced to 10 men by red cards.

The results will allow first-placed Bayern Munich, on 51 points, to extend their lead to 15 if they beat out-of-form Schalke 04 later on Saturday. Dortmund are second on 39 points and Leverkusen a point further behind in third.

Eintracht Frankfurt failed to take advantage of Dortmund's and Leverkusen's slip-ups, grinding out a goalless draw against Nuremberg to remain in fourth place on 37 points.

Werder Bremen beat VfB Stuttgart 4-1 with the hosts left licking their wounds after their fifth straight defeat that adds pressure on coach Bruno Labbadia, who only last month extended his deal to 2015.

VfL Wolfsburg climbed further away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Greuther Fuerth thanks to Bas Dost's eighth goal of the campaign to move up to 12th on 26 points.

Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski made the most of a defensive blunder by Hamburg captain Heiko Westermann to latch on to an awkward Mats Hummels cross to slot in his 14th league goal in the 17th minute.

Their lead, however, lasted only a minute as Rudnevs, left unmarked in the area, tapped in after a well-timed cutback from Dennis Aogo on the left.

The visitors went ahead when Son drilled home a superb shot off the post.