Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur top Group A of the Champions League after both had high-scoring home victories on Wednesday.
In Milan, defending champions Inter were far too strong for German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in Group A as they scored three goals in the space of 12 minutes midway through the first-half.
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Danish defender Daniel Jensen lost the ball in midfield, giving Eto’o a one-on-one with goalkeeper Tim Wiese.
Eto’o added a second just six minutes later after being set up by Brazilian defender Lucio. The Cameroonian had a hand in the third goal as he sent Dutch international Wesley Sneijder into space and lobbed the ball over Wiese.
In the other game in the group, Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart missed a penalty, received a booking and scored early in the second-half to give Premier League side Tottenham Hotspus the lead against Dutch champions Twente Enschede.
When Spurs were awarded a second penalty just three minutes later, it was Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko who took it and made no mistake, beating Nikolay Mihaylov, who had earlier saved van der Vaart’s spot-kick.
Twente substitute Nacer Chadli pulled one back for the visitors in the 56th minute.
Van der Vaart was then sent off for a second bookable offence, but Twente could not make their numerical advantage count as Pavlyuchenko converted another penalty in the 64th minute.
Gareth Bale added a fourth for Spurs late in the game.
In Group C, Javier Hernandez scored late in the second-half for Manchester United in Valencia to take his side to top spot in the group.
They share first place with Glasgow Rangers, who beat Bursaspor 1-0 through a Steven Naismith goal in Scotland. Both clubs have four points, while Valencia are on three points.
United manager Alex Ferguson said that it was a great result for his side. “Our record in Spain is not very good, and you have to be solid at the back. We did that, and we got the result,” he said.
In Group D, FC Copenhagen are the surprise leaders after winning 2-0 in Athens against Panathinaikos to maintain their 100 per cent record, while favourites Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw in Rubin Kazan.
