Brighton manager Sami Hyypia is predicting a rosy future for Liverpool loanee Joao Teixeira after the Portuguese playmaker scored for the second game running in a 2-1 home victory over Bolton.
Hyypia exploited his contacts at Liverpool – where he played for 10 years – to add a creative edge to his squad, and he rates the 21-year-old Teixeira highly.
He said: “Joao is a very good player. It’s going to be a good test for him. His goal is to play at the highest level and he’s on the right track.
“We need to keep him strong and training well, and his mentality must be right.”
Bellarabi: Goal was part of plan
Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking goalscorer Karim Bellarabi says his quick-fire goal against Borussia Dortmund was nothing out of the ordinary.
The 24-year-old scored the quickest goal in Bundesliga history – 52 seconds – in Saturday’s 2-0 win at the Westfalenstadion, and he said afterwards that it was all part of the plan.
“We always play the ball directly forward from kick-off,” he said.
“That’s what we did again this time, and that is our plan. I’m delighted because of course this is something quite special for me.”
Hamburg tie for holders Bayern
DFB-Pokal holders Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga rivals Hamburg in the second round of the cup.
Pep Guardiola’s men will travel north at the end of October in the pick of the second-round ties, which include two all-Bundesliga encounters.
With five top-flight teams falling at the first hurdle, that means only a maximum of 11 Bundesliga sides will make it to the last 16, although even fewer may make it through with some other difficult ties for the top-flight representatives.
The ties will be played on October 28 and 29.
Gerrard backs Rooney to be captain
Steven Gerrard has backed Wayne Rooney to succeed him as England captain.
Gerrard relinquished the national team armband when he announced his retirement from international duty in the weeks after England’s disappointing World Cup campaign earlier this summer, and believes Rooney is a worthy successor.
England manager Roy Hodgson is set to name his new captain on Thursday when he announces his squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland on September 8.
“Wayne is a natural leader. Aside from being a top player, one who commands respect within the group, Wayne is passionate about representing his country and won’t be fazed by the responsibility,” Liverpool captain Gerrard said.
United set to sign Di Maria – reports
Manchester United are close to signing Real Madrid’s Argentina winger Angel Di Maria in a deal that is expected to smash the British transfer record, according to media reports.
British newspapers said a move for the 26-year-old is likely to cost more than the £50 million Chelsea paid Liverpool for Spain striker Fernando Torres in 2011.
Di Maria cost Real £20 million from Benfica in 2010 and he was a key part of the team that won the club’s 10th European Cup last term.
The Daily Mail reported that Di Maria had already spoken with United manager Louis van Gaal about his likely role and said he was expected to be given the iconic number seven shirt worn by George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
Lippi banned
Guangzhou Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi has been provisionally suspended for the team’s Asian Champions League quarter-final return leg at home to Western Sydney Warriors for ‘unsporting behaviour’, the Asian Football Confederation said.
Lippi angrily confronted Emirati referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed after midfielder Gao Lin had followed defender Zhang Linpeng in being shown straight red cards during the Asian champions’ 1-0 loss in Sydney last Wednesday.
The World Cup-winning former Italy coach would not be allowed to sit in the dugout during Wednesday’s match in Guang-zhou.
“The AFC disciplinary committee decided that Lippi had purportedly displayed unsporting behaviour... as well as indiscipline,” the governing body said.
Player killed by projectile
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have called for sanctions following the death of JS Kabylie striker Albert Ebosse, who was killed by a projectile thrown from the crowd in an Algerian league match on Saturday.
The Cameroon forward was struck on the head by an object allegedly thrown from a section of his club’s own fans as the players left the field at the end of a 2-1 defeat to USM Alger in Tizi Ouzou, a match in which he had scored his side’s goal.
The 24-year-old Ebosse was the leading scorer in the Algerian league in the 2013-14 season with 17 goals having played the previous season in Malaysia.