Stark: Hertha Berlin have signed Germany’s former Under-19 European champion Niklas Stark on a four-year deal from second division Nuremberg. The 20-year-old Stark, who is now an Under-21 international, trained with the squad after completing his medical. The tall Stark captained Germany to the U-19 European title last year. He has won three caps for the U-21 team.
Barca injuries: Barcelona full-back Dani Alves suffered a groin strain in Sunday’s 1-0 La Liga win at Athletic Bilbao but midfielder Sergio Busquets escaped with a minor ankle knock. Alves had to be replaced by Sergi Roberto after 19 minutes at San Mames after clashing with Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz, while Busquets was taken off on a stretcher in the second half after tangling with the same player, with Marc Bartra coming on. Barca did not say how long Alves might be sidelined, though reports said he could be out for a month.
Freeview: Manchester United’s Champions League play-off second leg against Club Brugge tomorrow will be shown for free by BT Sport. The match – which United go into with a 3-1 lead after the first leg at Old Trafford – is the first live match to be available to Freeview viewers on BT Sport Showcase. The broadcaster plans to show at least 12 Champions League matches and 14 Europa League ties for free.
De Guzman: Jonathan de Guzman’s agent has revealed that his client could leave Napoli to join Sunderland on loan. “It’s true there’s an agreement for the player to go on loan with a purchase option included for the English club, but we are all working towards finding a solution for De Guzman, who is not in the plans of (Napoli coach Maurizio) Sarri for this season,” agent Fabio Parisi said.
Armstrong: Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong has been called into the Scotland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Georgia and Germany. The 23-year-old is the only uncapped player in Gordon Strachan’s pool. Derby striker Chris Martin and Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor are back in the squad.
U-23 appeal: The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) have adjourned the appeal by New Zealand Football over their U-23 men’s team’s expulsion from the Olympic qualifying tournament final last month. New Zealand were expelled after the OFC ruled that South African-born defender Deklan Wynne was ineligible following an appeal by Vanuatu. The appeal hearing was scheduled to have begun in Auckland yesterday but the OFC said it had been adjourned after NZF said their legal counsel was unavailable.
La Liga: Granada vs Eibar 1-3.