Mixed fortunes for Spanish trio
FC Barcelona strode to a tenth successive UEFA Champions League victory on a night of contrasting emotions for the three Primera División sides.
FC Barcelona strode to a tenth successive UEFA Champions League victory on a night of contrasting emotions for the three Primera División sides.
In a Group A game rearranged from last night because of heavy rain, Barcelona cruised to a 3-1 victory at Camp Nou against English club Newcastle United FC. The Spanish side, who have been victorious in every European game this season including their third qualifying round tie against Legia Warszawa, have equalled AC Milan's ten-year-old record in Europe's premier club competition.
Dani García stunned Newcastle after seven minutes with a sweet left-foot volley but Shola Ameobi struck back in the 24th minute with a low shot that deceived Roberto Bonano. However, Patrick Kluivert restored Barça's lead with a side-footed effort from 15 metres ten minutes before the break and Thiago Motta made the game safe with a header just before the hour mark.
Real Madrid CF were held to a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu by newly crowned Russian champions FC Lokomotiv Moskva. The home side took the lead in the 21st minute through Raúl González in the Group C tie but were pegged back by two goals in the second half from James Obiorah and Thabo Mnguni. Raúl secured a point for the relieved holders with an equaliser 15 minutes from time.
Madrid now trail AC Milan in the group by two points after the Italian team achieved an impressive 1-0 win at BV Borussia Dortmund. The only goal of the Group C game came from Filippo Inzaghi after he beat the offside trap to score although Tomáš Rosický hit the bar right at the end. Milan have two wins from two and look well placed to reach the knockout stages.
David Trezeguet made a triumphant return for the Italian champions Juventus, scoring after just three minutes against FC Basel. The France forward has had two months of knee trouble and had only just returned to the side in place of Marco Di Vaio. He stooped to score with a header after a flick-on by Mark Iuliano before Paolo Montero and Alessio Tacchinardi, with a stunning volley, put Juve in charge at the break. An Alessandro Del Piero penalty in the second half wrapped up a 4-0 win.
It was a similar story in the other Group D game at Old Trafford, where United found the net through Ruud van Nistelrooij inside seven minutes against old foes RC Deportivo La Coruña and went on to win 2-0. The Dutch striker's seventh Champions League goal of the season came with his head after he rose to meet Paul Scholes's cross. Van Nistelrooij added a second from close range in the 55th minute on a comfortable night that saw David Beckham return from his own injury lay-off as second-half substitute.