GUSTA BLOWS INTO ATHENS

AEK ATHENS last night signed Gustavo Manduca from Benfica and the Brazilian striker could be thrown into the Champions League clash with Hearts at Murrayfield on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old has joined the Greek side on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

And Manduca could feature at Murrayfield when the sides meet in the first leg of their third round qualifying tie.

He only joined Benfica in January and just managed one goal in 16 games.

Manduca spent the two previous campaigns with fellow Portuguese outfit CS Maritimo, scoring 11 times in 46 league appearances and a run out against the Jambos will mark his second meeting with Scottish opposition.

Manduca scored for Maritimo in a 1-0 UEFA Cup first round win against Rangers in 2004. But a Dado Prso goal levelled the tie at Ibrox before the Scots went on to advance 4-2 on penalties.

Meanwhile, AEK lost 3-1 in a friendly with Second Division Greeks Chaidari.

AEK boss Lorenzo Serra Ferrer didn't use any of the 11 players that started the 3-1 win against Benfica last week but former Barcelona kid Oriol

Taken from the Daily Record