... THE HARDER THEY FALL

These sides didn’t entertain the idea of relegation – but reality dictated otherwise

included one at home to

fellow strugglers Fulham,

MANCHESTER CITY 1937- 38 which lifted Southampton

Reigning out of the champions, relegation zone City somehow managed to go down the following year despite top- scoring in the First Division. Just two sides achieved more home wins, but City’s travails on the road and a leaky backline meant they became the only top- tier champions in English history to go down the next campaign. In the tightest relegation scrap of all time, they finished two wins behind 12th- placed Blackpool.

NAPOLI 1997- 98

The Partenopei were crowned Italian champions only eight years earlier, but this utterly abysmal campaign was a far cry from Maradona & Co. A Napoli team featuring such greats as Roberto Ayala and William Prunier were led by four different bosses as they collected two wins and a measly 14 points from 34 Serie A games. No side scored fewer goals or conceded more – a recipe for a catastrophe.

ATLETICO MADRID 1999- 00

Only one player outscored Atletico’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in this La Liga campaign, but it didn’t stop them finishing a full seven points adrift of safety. In mitigation, a sorry season was played out against a backdrop of boardroom chaos; in December 1999, president Jesus Gil and his board were suspended for the misappropriation of club funds. The Rojiblancos came back up – but at the second attempt.

RIVER PLATE 2010- 11

The most shocking drop of all. River are Argentina’s most successful side, with 41 titles ( Boca Juniors have 33), but even a three- season relegation system designed to protect big clubs couldn’t save them from a first- ever demotion. Financial woes made for lamentable 2008- 09 and 2009- 10 campaigns, and a resurgance in 2010- 11 wasn’t enough: River lost 3- 1 on aggregate to Belgrano of Primera B in their relegation play- off.