UEFA Champions League Qualifier Round up

Zurich 0-1 Bayern Munich:

 

Goal Scorer: Mario Gomez(Bayern)

Villarreal 3-0 OB Odense:

 

Goal Scorers: Giuseppe Rossi, Carlos Marchena(Villarreal)

APOEL Nicosia 3-1 Wisla Krakow:

Goal Scorer: Ailton-2goals(APOEL), Sergei Pareiko – own goal, Cezary Wilk(Wisla)

OTHER RESULTS: 

Malmo FF 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb:

Goal Scorers: Wilton Figueiredo, Pontus Jansson(Malmo FF)

Pen. Racing Genk * 2-1 Maccabi Haifa:

Goal Scorers: Jelle Vossen, Thomas Buffel(Genk), Eyal Golasa(Haifa) – Genk won on penalities

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Blackburn confirm Vukcevic signing

 

Blackburn coach Steve Kean has completed his fourth signing of the summer with the capture of Montenegro forward Simon Vukcevic from  Sporting Lisbon.

The 25-year-old has penned a three-year contract, and although he has yet to collect a visa and work permit, it is expected he will be available for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at Ewood Park.

"Hopefully he'll be back in the country some time tomorrow [Wednesday]," said Kean on Tuesday, whose side are at home to Sheffield Wednesday in a Carling Cup second-round tie on Wednesday.

"It's going to be difficult for him to be involved in (the Carling Cup) game because he has not even trained with us.

"But if he comes back with all the appropriate paperwork then he will train with us on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the Everton game."

It is understood Rovers have paid the Portuguese outfit £2million for Vukcevic, who is his country's most-capped player.

Assessing Vukcevic, Kean added: "He is an exciting player who can play wide on either side.

"As a character, when you meet him he is a very focused guy, takes his football very seriously. He likes to take people on, to be the guy who makes a difference, a bit of a match winner.

"He is a very good player with lots of international games under his belt for a country in the top 20, so he has performed at that level at a consistent basis.

"He will give us a different dimension."

In revealing it had not worked out well for Vukcevic towards the end of his time at Sporting, Kean said: "So he has decided to come to us, which is brilliant for us.

"I've watched him a number of times live and if you can get the ball out wide to him and he can isolate a full-back, then it will be hard for anyone to stop him when he is on the run.

"That's exactly the type of player we have been after."

Kean has also recealed he is close to signing defender George John from Major League Soccer side FC Dallas.

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Wolves exit for striker Stefan Maierhofer

 

Wolverhampton striker Stefan Maierhofer has completed his move to Red Bull Salzburg.

The 29-year-old has returned to his homeland Austria after struggling to make an impact at Molineux.

He has signed a two-year contract with Salzburg and will be formally unveiled by his new employers on Wednesday.

Maierhofer joined Wolves in 2009 but spent last season on loan at MSV Duisburg.
With it clear that he had no future in English football he has decided to secure a permanent switch this summer.

He has earlier experience of life in the Austrian top flight, having turned out for Rapid Vienna in the past.

Maierhofer is hoping that a return to his native will inject new life into his career, with an exciting new chapter set to be opened.

He told Salzburg's official website: "It's a fantastic challenge for me and I'm coming to Salzburg to win titles.

"I also want to help the Red Bulls achieve their European aims."

Sporting director Heinz Hochhauser added: "Stefan is exactly the kind of player that our team needs - a tireless grafter who can and will lift the whole team."

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Inter chase for ‘German Messi’

Inter Milan are eager to swoop for Bundesliga champions Dortmund's young starlet, Mario Gotze, as they seek to strengthen their attack.

The Serie A giants are keen to splash the cash after selling striker Samuel Eto'o to Anzahi Makhachkala in a big money deal, and are planning to bid for the Bundesliga midfielder, according to reports in calciomercato.

Inter Milan was expected to move for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan, but latest reports indicate that their attention has been captured by Gotze after his performances for Borussia Dortmund last campaign.

Initial reports suggested Inter were looking to sign a direct replacement for Eto'o in the form of Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, but it is now believed that Gotze is viewed as an alternative.

The 19-year-old's youngster brightened considerably after he scored in Germany's 3-2 
friendly victory over Brazil, and so has his transfer value, as Inter will have to spend at least €20 million in order to steal their man.

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