Postponed: Heavy rain forced the postponement of yesterday’s Europa League first qualifying round second leg tie between Bulgarian club Litex Lovech and Moldova’s Veris. A Litex spokesman said the match may be played at another unnamed venue today because the pitch would probably still be unplayable.

Hierro: Former Real Madrid defender and captain Fernando Hierro will take over from Zinedine Zidane as coach Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, the La Liga club said yesterday. Real announced last week that former France captain Zidane would manage the club’s reserve team, Castilla, next season. Hierro made 601 appearances for Real, scoring 127 goals, and was capped 89 times by Spain.

Alves: Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves has ended the uncertainty surrounding his future by signing a new contract with the club until 2019. The Brazilian stopper’s current deal with Valencia was due to expire in 2015 but he has now secured the longest contract at the club.

Van Gaal: New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will make his first appearance at Old Trafford in a pre-season friendly against Valencia on August 12. Van Gaal’s role as Holland coach will end after tomorrow’s third-place play-off against Brazil at the World Cup and he will then turn his attention to making the Red Devils competitive again after last season’s seventh-placed finish.

Cuenca: Barcelona have released Isaac Cuenca after reaching a deal to rescind the forward’s contract. The 23-year-old played suffered a serious knee injury in May 2012 that required surgery. When he returned Cuenca joined Ajax on loan in January, 2013 ,but saw his spell in Holland cut short by another knee injury. Cuenca has been linked with a move to Deportivo La Coruna.