Sam Allardyce has told his West Ham side to do beleaguered Aston Villa no favours in Saturday s Premier League clash at Upton Park.

Villa manager Paul Lambert has come under increasing pressure after a run of six straight top-flight defeats that has left his side just a point above the relegation zone.

There were plenty of positives for Lambert in last weekend s 2-1 loss to Tottenham, though, not least the fact Andreas Weimann s opener ended a barren run in front of goal that lasted 547 minutes.

However, the game swung on Christian Benteke s dismissal for raising his hand into Ryan Mason s face 25 minutes from time, and Spurs duly took advantage with late goals from Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane.

And Allardyce has called on his in-form side to extend Villa …

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he is proud to be part of the Europa League final as his side prepare to face Athletic Bilbao.

Simeone s will play the showpiece final on Tuesday in Bucharest where Bilbao will be looking to deny Atletico a second Europa League title in three seasons.

Atletico won the competition in 2010 after beating Fulham in Hamburg, and Simeone is hoping his team can repeat that success in his first season in charge.

The work we have been doing is very positive, I think it s not the best time to give my opinion before the end of the season, but I can identify with the team, the Argentine said.

The players have shown that they are very competitive and they have got used to playing every Sunday Tuesday for several months.

…

Spanish Primera Division side Sevilla have attracted Frenchman Sébastien Squillaci for the coming four seasons.

The defender makes a move from French champions Olympique de Lyon and is to be presented by Sevilla on Thursday. This was announced on the club s official website.

Squillaci, 27 years old, joined Lyon from AS Monaco in 2006 and grew to become one of the team s key players. During those two years, the player formed part of the side that won two national championships and a Coupe de France.

Although Squillaci was selected to form part of the French national team for Euro 2008, he was never given a chance to make an appearance in Switzerland. In the past, he did play thirteen games for les Bleus .

Sevilla are said to pay around six million …

Competition: Serie A

Market: Crotone to beat Cagliari

Odds:

Italy s top league is back for yet another massive round of games that will surely only bring more goals and excitement as the season wears on. Every side will be desperate to win their next game as the three points on offer can see a side rise a number of places, and with this in mind, Crotone host Cagliari on Sunday.

Crotone have been struggling this season and they are in need of a run of positive results to get themselves out of trouble. After 21 games they have won five, drawn three and lost 13, while they have scored 16 goals and conceded 38 times. In their last five they have won twice and lost three times, which has seen them onto 18 points, two clear of SPAL and the relegation…

Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has denied reports he is set for a move away from the club this off-season.

The Ivory Coast international has reportedly attracted the attention of several top European sides, after playing a key role in the Magpies impressive fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

However, the 25-year-old has cooled rumours he could leave the club by insisting he is settled in the North East.

I like living in Newcastle, very much, it is a very simple life for me, he told The Gazette.

I am at home with my family and I can just chill some days for the whole day. But when I want to go out and do some stuff, I can do that as well.

Tiote also paid tribute to the people of Newcastle who have welcomed him since his arriva…

Erling Haaland continues to dominate headlines.

Haaland s exploits for Borussia Dortmund has reportedly attracted interest from Europe s elite.

Will he decide between the two Manchester giants?

TOP STORY – HAALAND WANTED IN MANCHESTER

Manchester United and neighbours Manchester City are set to go head-to-head to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland , according to the Daily Mail.

Haaland is one of the most sought-after players in Europe, linked with Real Madrid , Liverpool , Barcelona , Bayern Munich , City and United.

The Norway international snubbed United for Dortmund in January but the Red Devils remain interested, while City view Haaland as a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero .

Manchester United and C…

Borussia Dortmund welcome rivals Schalke to Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga this weekend looking for a fourth successive league win.

Schalke will look to end the resurgence of fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in the hotly anticipated Ruhr derby at Signal Iduna Park.

Having struggled during the first half of the Bundesliga season, Jurgen Klopp s side have lifted themselves away from relegation trouble with three successive league victories.

They sit three points above the danger zone in 12th, but face a tough test to make it four triumphs in a row this weekend.

Matches between the two sides are one of the spectacles within the German top-flight season, although both clubs will be hoping no trouble erupts as it did in 2013 when eight Dortmu…

The title credentials of surprise German league leaders Hoffenheim will face their sternest examination yet when the village side travel to the home of reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Bankrolled by local businessman Dietmar Hopp, Hoffenheim have risen from the depths of Germany s amateur leagues and currently top the table by three points from Bayern after 15 games.

Key to their impressive start to life in their first season in Germany s top flight has been the form of Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic, who tops the Bundesliga scoring charts with 17 goals.

The 24-year-old s prolific form in front of goal has led to speculation linking him with a move away from the club, be he insists he has no intention of leaving.

All that (speculation) makes me prou…

Jorge Sampaoli s Argentina have struggled in terms of coherence and fluency in attack ever since the new coach took over in 2017, and in Friday s 2-0 win over Italy they were without the man who usually helps gloss over that: Lionel Messi.

Due to muscular fatigue, the Barcelona superstar was deemed unfit to feature against the Italians at the Etihad Stadium, as Luigi Di Biagio lost his first game as interim coach for the Azzurri thanks to two late goals after a flurry of substitutions caused the game to become disjointed.

Messi watched on from the expensive seats, the TV cameras panning to see his reaction with every wasted Argentina chance – the forward usually obliging and producing a frustrated reaction.

Without their talisman and leader, Manuel Lanzini,…

Man City in mega money bid for Pogba

that Manchester City are ready to splash the cash on Juventus star Paul Pogba in the summer.

The Citizens are preparing for life without Yaya Toure and they believe the French midfielder would be a perfect long-term replacement for the Ivorian.

As a result, they are prepared to offer Juventus £70 million for his services, as well as make Pogba their highest paid player in history.

According to Daily Mirror, Manchester City plan to offer the France star a long-term deal worth £250,000 per week after tax.

The Citizens are well aware that the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen, but they hope Pogba will eventually arrive at the Etihad.

The highly rated…