Title-holders Inter Milan came from behind to draw 2-2 with Dutch side Twente, while Lionel Messi bagged a brace as Barcelona swept aside Panathinaikos in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Manchester United was held to a goalless draw at Old Trafford by Scottish side Rangers and had striker Antonio Valencia stretchered off with a suspected fractured ankle.
Elsewhere in the first of the group stage games, Germany’s Werder Bremen came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, but fellow Bundesliga side Schalke had a player sent off as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Lyon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Inter were made to fight hard for their point against Dutch champions Twente in Group A.
Wesley Sneijder mopped up from close range to put the Italians ahead in the 13th minute. But Inter — now coached by Rafael Benitez were behind after half an hour after a free kick by Theo Janssen and an own goal from a Janssen corner by Diego Milito.
Samuel Eto’o rescued the point when his long-range effort crept in near the post three minutes before the break.
ADVERTISEMENT
Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur failed to hold onto a two-goal lead at Bremen who came back to share the points in the group.
Petri Pavanen turned a Gareth Bale cross into his own net in the 13th minute, and Spurs doubled their lead five minutes later when Peter Crouch headed in a Rafael van der Vaart cross.
Hugo Almeida headed Bremen back in the game two minutes before half-time and Bremen levelled two minutes after the break when Marko Marin rifled in a shot from the edge of the area.
Barcelona came from behind to a Sidney Govou goal to sweep Greek visitors Panathinaikos aside 5-1 in Group D. Messi levelled, David Villa put Barca in front and Messi scored a third just before half-time after playing one-twos with Xavi and Pedro Rodrigues.
The Argentina striker missed a hat-trick chance when his 55th minute penalty — after he was brought down in the area by Cedric Kante — was saved by Alexandros Tzorvas.
But Messi set up the fourth goal 12 minutes from time when from a tight angle he hit the inside of the far post, the ball then rebounding off the near post for Pedro to do the rest.
And Messi was again involved when he chipped the ball to Danny Alvez to head a fifth for Barca in stoppage time.
Group rivals Copenhagen edged Russian champions Rubin Kazan 1-0 with a headed winner three minutes from time from Dame N’Doye.
Manchester United failed to break down Rangers in a goalless draw in Group C overshadowed by the injury on the hour to Ecuador international Valencia.
Spanish side Valencia began smoothly in the group with a 4-0 win at Turkish side Bursaspor, Tino Costa and Aritz Aduriz scoring first-half goals before Pablo Hernandez and Roberto Soldado doubled the score after the break.
Michel Bastos was on target after 20 minutes as Olympique Lyon earned a 1-0 Group B win over Bundesliga side Schalke, who had Benedikt Hoewedes shown a red card for a high tackle on Jimmy Briand in the 38th minute.
Benfica began in the group with a 2-0 defeat of Hapoel Tel Aviv thanks to goals from Luisao in the 21st minute and Oscar Cardoza in the 68th.