Sporting briefs

City win: Manchester City lifted the Dublin Super Cup with a clinical 3-0 win over Inter yesterday. Mario Balotelli was the star of the show, opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time after a fine first-half performance. Edin Dzeko netted a second immediately after the restart and Adam Johnson wrapped things up in injury time, as new signing Sergio Aguero watched on from the sidelines.

Lee: South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong will be out of action for nine months after breaking his leg in a pre-season friendly playing for Bolton Wanderers. The 23-year-old international had to be stretchered off during the first half of the game against Newport County. It was later confirmed that he had undergone a successful operation to repair a double fracture of his lower right leg.

Roma: Roma are reportedly looking to sign Werder Bremen and Germany starlet Marko Marin to replace Mirko Vucinic. Marin has also been linked with Liverpool, Juventus and Inter this summer.

Pazzagli dies: Former Milan goalkeeper Andrea Pazzagli has died at the age of 51. Pazzagli was a member of Arrigo Sacchi’s squad from 1989 to 1991, winning the European Cup, Italian Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He guarded Milan’s goal during the Intercontinental Cup victory over Olimpia Asuncion in 1990.

Afellay: Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay is set to be sidelined for up to five weeks after suffering a hamstring tear during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. Afellay will miss this month’s Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid and the UEFA Super Cup against Porto.

Friendlies: Heerenveen vs Olympiakos 5-4; Feyenoord vs Malaga 0-2; PSG vs Boca Juniors 3-0; Arsenal vs NY Red Bulls 1-1; Leeds vs Newcastle 3-2; Man. City vs Inter 3-0; Celtic vs Airtricity XI 5-0; Preston vs Wigan 1-3; Sheff. United vs Blackpool 1-1.

In Scotland: Premier League – Hearts vs Dundee United 0-1.