(GSM) Barcelona hoped to match the splendid performances of 2009 in the new year, but after two weeks in 2010 their hopes have vanished.

In the Copa del Rey, Sevilla was the stronger team on aggregate, and Barcelona exited its first competition under coach Josep Guardiola

This hurts, said an emotional Guardiola afterwards.

Barca won the second leg of the last 16 tie 1-0 in the Andalusian capital but a 2-1 defeat in last week s home leg meant they were eliminated on the away goals rule, Guardiola s first taste of failure since he took over last season.

It s not good news, even if people will say that we can now concentrate on La Liga and the Champions League, said Guardiola.

In sport we are not taught how to lose and this has affected us.

…

Didier Deschamps has named Andre-Pierre Gignac in the France squad for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Marseille striker has scored three times in Ligue 1 this season and features in Deschamps 25-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Belarus in September.

Gignac was part of the France squad that refused to train at the World Cup in South Africa after Nicolas Anelka s expulsion.

However, Deschamps confirmed that the 27-year-old s domestic form saw him recalled.

Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye is one of the notable absentees, having not played in a competitive game for his club this season.

The former Lille man is the subject of interest from Arsenal and had been a regular fixture in Deschamps selections.

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Pep Guardiola is ready to be targeted by critics at Manchester City, despite having mainly enjoyed adulation in his managerial career so far.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss insists he is nothing special, explaining he only receives attention and fanfare because he has been able to win silverware.

Guardiola, who is preparing City to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, thinks all of the Premier League managers are operating at the highest level and accepts the critics will come for him before long.

The City boss was asked how he coped with the scrutiny of his methods and revealed he barely looks at what is said about him, even though he has been the subject of books and documentaries.

Do you know why? It is because we won, he sa…

Hamburg are willing to agree to Alen Halilovic s request to leave the club during the transfer window, according to sporting director Jens Todt.

Halilovic has not featured since the 3-0 Bundesliga loss to Hamburg in October and a report in his native Croatia claims Celta Vigo, Villarreal and Espanyol are all interested in bringing him back to LaLiga.

Todt has confirmed that the former Barcelona youngster has asked for a change of scene and says a loan deal is most likely, although he warns that the mid-season market is perilous for Bundesliga clubs to strike deals.

Alen wants to play a lot more and he asked us for a change, Todt said, as quoted by Bild. A loan is feasible.

Winter transfers are the most difficult. Everyone is looking for a fully integrat…

Conor Gallagher s sublime last-minute strike earned Chelsea a 2-1 win against his former club Crystal Palace to give Graham Potter a winning start in the Premier League.

Second-half substitute Gallagher, who spent last season on loan at Selhurst Park, curled home in the 90th minute to win a game that Chelsea trailed early on.

Odsonne Edouard had given Palace the lead on home soil in Saturday s contest, only for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to net his first goal for Chelsea before half-time.

Palace felt Thiago Silva should have been sent off before assisting that Aubameyang equaliser, and their mood was not helped by former player Gallagher s late winner.

Gallagher s late stunner wins it! |

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

Wesley Fofana was dra…

Real Madrid saw their perfect start in LaLiga halted by 10-man Osasuna on Sunday, as Karim Benzema missed a late penalty on his return from injury in a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Injuries to Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois left Madrid depleted at the Santiago Bernabeu, but they took the lead in fortunate fashion when Vinicius Junior s cross beat Sergio Herrera.

Courtois replacement Andriy Lunin was caught out by Kike Garcia s header as Osasuna equalised shortly after half-time, but the hosts were awarded a penalty when David Garcia pushed Benzema, earning himself a red card.

However, Benzema hammered his spot-kick against the crossbar as Osasuna clung on, ending Madrid s winning run and keeping them below Barcelona at the summit.

3 Real Madrid s Karim Benzema ha…

Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy has agreed a new four-year contract with the club.

The 27-year-old arrived at Carrow Road in 2010 from Everton and has gone on to make 107 appearances in all competitions.

His form has earned him a first England cap against Italy in 2012 and he has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season.

And Ruddy will now remain at Norwich until 2017 something he is thrilled about.

I m more than happy to commit my long-term future to the club, Ruddy told the club s official website.

I ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Norwich City everyone has been very supportive. The whole club, the players and staff I have worked with have been fantastic.

I ve broken into the England squad while at Norwich, and without the opportu…

Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze will be wearing his sky blue and white heart on his sleeve in Saturday s World Cup quarter-final against Germany, even if his father would have had divided loyalties.

The man who scored Argentina s first goal of the tournament in the win over Nigeria was born to a German father, who passed away in 2004, and an Italian mother.

He also holds German and Italian passports.

But where football is concerned it is the albiceleste who count and now the Marseille central defender is plotting the downfall of the land of his forefathers.

The 32-year-old who started out with Newells Old Boys before spells with the likes of Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United has not always been flavour of the month with the fans.

There …

Juan Mata has urged his Manchester United team-mates to retain their focus as they prepare to follow a Europa League trip to Saint-Etienne with the EFL Cup final against Southampton.

Jose Mourinho s side are still fighting on four fronts, having advanced their claim for a top-four spot with a 16-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and overcome Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup fifth round at the weekend.

Sunday s EFL Cup showdown with the Saints at Wembley will provide the Portuguese boss with a chance to add to the silverware collected in the season-opening Community Shield win over Leicester City.

First, though, United visit the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for the second leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie, holding a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead.

A…

Laurent Blanc has hinted he is on the verge of signing a new Paris Saint-Germain contract and suggested it will be officially announced next week.

Blanc took over at the Parc des Princes ahead of the 2013-14 season following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid and has overseen a period of domestic dominance in that time, most notably collecting an unprecedented clean sweep in French football last term.

The former France international stated back in December that talks had started on a new deal and it appears as though the 50-year-old is set to put pen to paper.

You will know more [about a renewal] soon. Probably next week, he said ahead of PSG s trip to Saint-Etienne.

Blanc also defended misfiring striker Edinson Cavani, who is withou…