20 Unlikely Clubs in Early-Relegation Trouble
The season's quarter poll is nearing in many of Europe's leagues, which means a picture of how the schedules will play out is starting to take shape.
This is better news for some clubs than it is for others.
While the majority of attention is often expended in analysing the tops of the tables, some fascinating storylines are developing in the relegation zones that certainly merit examination as well.
There are some unlikely clubs in danger of going down or at least being dragged into a relegation fight, and in the following slideshow we'll take a look at where they stand at present and what their fortunes might be going forward.
Let's get to it.
20. Chievo Verona: 18th, Serie A
1 of 20
Chievo Verona finished 16th in Serie A last season, but the thinking was that a full season of Maxi Lopez, in addition to a squad of reasonable talent, including the likes of Alberto Paloschi, Bostjan Cesar and Ivan Radovanovic, would have seen them avoid the relegation scrap this term. That hasn't happened, although the October appointment of manager Rolando Maran seems to be hinting at a turn in the corner.
19. Bastia: 15th, Ligue 1
2 of 20
Bastia finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season, but after 13 games this term, they are just a single point above the relegation places. Goalscoring is the biggest problem at the Corsican outfit—something that wasn't helped when striker Brandao received a six-month ban for head-butting PSG's Thiago Motta.
18. Academica: 14th, Portuguese Primeira Liga
3 of 20
Academica were a solidly mid-table side in 2013-14 and ended up as near to the European positions as the drop zone. But despite one of the better defensive records in the Portuguese top flight, they simply can't find the back of the net. Rui Pedro leads the side with just two goals to date.
17. Konyaspor: 14th, Turkish Super Lig
4 of 20
Only Fenerbahce, Bursaspor and Genclerbirligi have conceded fewer goals than Konyaspor so far this campaign, but the southern Turkish outfit has tallied just eight times in 10 matches. Relatively new to the Super Lig, they are the current employers of former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, on-loan Udinese attacker Gabriel Torje and Romanian striker Ciprian Marica.
16. Hertha Berlin: 14th, Bundesliga
5 of 20
Don't look now, but Hertha Berlin are in serious relegation trouble. The capital side have won just three of their 11 Bundesliga matches to date while conceding a disheartening 21 goals. They finished 11th last season, after which they added former Fulham defender John Heitinga, ex-Chelsea marksman Salomon Kalou and one-time Borussia Dortmund striker Julian Schieber.
15. ADO Den Haag: 14th, Eredivisie
6 of 20
The Eredivisie's 16th-place side is forced to contest a relegation play-off, and after 12 matches this season, ADO Den Haag find themselves just three points clear of that position. They finished ninth in 2013-14 and were a Europa League team as recently as 2012.
14. Lorient: 20th, Ligue 1
7 of 20
Lorient are famed for their ability to churn out high-quality players, and their academy is responsible for the development of the likes of Andre Ayew, Ludovic Giuly and Laurent Koscielny. But after an eighth-place finish last season, they currently find themselves propping up the Ligue 1 table and having scored just 10 goals in 13 matches.
13. Nacional: 15th, Portuguese Primeira Liga
8 of 20
After coming fifth in the Portuguese top flight last season, Nacional booked a spot in the Europa League play-off round, where they were beaten by Dinamo Minsk. Things haven't exactly improved for the Madeira side since then, and ahead of their next match away to last-place Gil Vicente, they sit just four points above the drop with just seven goals scored in 10 matches.
12. Atalanta: 17th, Serie A
9 of 20
Atalanta finished 15th in Serie A in 2012-13 but improved to 11th last term. During the summer, however, they sold goalkeeper Andrea Consigli to Sassuolo and midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura to AC Milan—departures they've struggled to overcome.
They did acquire Alejandro Gomez from Metalist Kharkiv ahead of the current campaign, although the Argentine has battled injury problems in the early going and is yet to score a goal for his new club.
11. Levante: 19th, La Liga
10 of 20
Just how important was Keylor Navas to Levante? Last season the Valencia outfit conceded just 43 goals in 38 matches en route to a 10th-place finish in La Liga, and on many nights it was the Costa Rica goalkeeper stealing the points. But Navas joined Real Madrid during the summer, and suddenly Levante's is the worst defensive record in the division.
10. Hull City: 15th, Premier League
11 of 20
Hull City contested the FA Cup final last spring and progressed to the play-off round of this season's Europa League, only to go out on away goals against Lokeren. Their European exit may have been a blessing in disguise. Presently two points up on the Premier League's relegation places, Hull are winless in four and have won just one of their last 10 matches going into Sunday's showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.
9. Stuttgart: 18th, Bundesliga
12 of 20
Stuttgart's troubles have been building for some time, and with the Bundesliga about to go past the quarter poll this weekend, the 2007 champions are dead last in the German top flight. Offseason activity was kept to a minimum at Mercedes-Benz Arena, with Oriol Romeu and Florian Klein representing two of the club's most meaningful acquisitions.
8. Motherwell: 10th, Scottish Premiership
13 of 20
It was only last spring that Motherwell surprisingly finished runners-up to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. With 13 matches gone this season, they found themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap, just two points off the foot of the table. Earlier this month manager Stuart McCall resigned, and the club responded by beating Dundee United 1-0.
7. Sunderland: 14th, Premier League
14 of 20
A four-match winning streak between April and May of last season ensured Sunderland would remain in the top flight of English football, but once again it seems the Black Cats will face a struggle to stay in the Premier League. The summer acquisitions of Jack Rodwell, Patrick van Aanholt and Jordi Gomez have yet to pay off in the standings, and ahead of Saturday's trip to Leicester, the club sits two points above the drop.
6. Sivasspor: 17th, Turkish Super Lig
15 of 20
Last season Brazil icon Roberto Carlos, now a manager, guided Sivasspor to fifth in the Turkish Super Lig, missing out on the Europa League on goal difference. But with just a single win to show for their nine domestic matches so far this season, the Yigidos face the very real possibility of relegation.
5. Parma: 20th, Serie A
16 of 20
Parma came fifth in Serie A last season and only missed out on Europa League football because their debut situation made them ineligible for a UEFA license. Antonio Cassano, who was exceptional in 2013-14, continues to chip in with goals, but beyond the 32-year-old, the Gialloblu have struggled for offense.
4. Werder Bremen: 16th, Bundesliga
17 of 20
If the Bundesliga ended today, Werder Bremen would find themselves in the uncomfortable situation of having to contest a relegation play-off. Once a regular participant in the Champions League, Bremen are presently just a point removed from last place.
But they've won both their matches (one was in the DfB-Pokal) since the appointment of manager Viktor Skrypnyk, who took over from the sacked Robin Dutt in late October.
3. Aston Villa: 16th, Premier League
18 of 20
Aston Villa have never been relegated from the Premier League, but their stay in the top flight of English football could be set to come to an end. Ahead of the weekend's clash with red-hot Southampton, the Villains are just two points above the drop zone and have scored just a single goal in their last seven matches, six of which were losses.
2. Real Sociedad: 15th, La Liga
19 of 20
It was only a year ago that Real Sociedad were contesting the group stage of the Champions League. But 11 games into the current Primera Division season they sit just three points above the foot of the table, having won only one of their last nine matches. Earlier this month they appointed David Moyes as manager following the exit of Jagoba Arrasate.
1. Borussia Dortmund: 15th, Bundesliga
20 of 20
Borussia Dortmund were actually bottom of the Bundesliga before a November 9 victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach lifted them three places higher in the standings. Prior to the 1-0 win they had lost five successive matches, even as they continued to enjoy success in the Champions League. Dortmund have finished first or second in the German top flight each season since 2009-10, when they came fifth.
