Unhappy landing for Hapoel's Neira

Broken ankle
The 29-year-old received his international clearance on Thursday afternoon after leaving CD Unión Española, and went straight into the team to meet PFC CSKA Moskva in a friendly tournament in Israel featuring sides from the host nation, Russia and Ukraine. Just three minutes in, however, Neira sustained a double fracture to his ankle and will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

'Season over'
Hapoel captain Josef Abukasis, who also limped off and needed stitches to a leg wound, said: "I will be fine for Sunday's derby against Maccabi Tel-Aviv [FC] but poor Neira is crying his eyes out. He only landed here four or five days ago and now his season is over." CSKA won the match 4-1, while Maccabi Haifa FC held FC Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday, with FC Shakhtar Donetsk also involved. Hapoel play Rangers FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 on 14 and 22 February, while CSKA are up against Maccabi Haifa.