Spanish teams top early Champions League class

Deportivo Coruna's stunning 3-2 win at Bayern Munich completed a perfect first week for Spain's four Champions League teams, raising the prospect of another season of European domination by la liga's finest.

Victory for Deportivo, achieved despite the absence of first choice goalkeeper Jose Molina and leading striker Diego Tristan, followed 24 hours after equally impressive results from Real Madrid and Valencia.

Real, who took their tally of European Cup wins to nine last season, kicked off the defence of their title with an utterly ruthless 3-0 win at AS Roma on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Valencia were teaching a lesson to four-times European champions Liverpool in a 2-0 success at Mestalla.

Barcelona managed a less eye-catching result in beating Club Bruges of Belgium 3-2 but the gulf in class was there for all to see as the Catalans tore at their opponents for much of the game, only a late attack of nerves threatening the outcome.

"For 75 minutes we were simply fantastic," coach Louis van Gaal said after his side's Nou Camp debut.

While Spanish clubs were running riot in the opening week of European competition, representatives from England's premier league managed two wins from four, while from Italy only AC Milan could get off to a victorious start.

Of the three French clubs in action, only AJ Auxerre mustered so much as a point, while Bayern's defeat completed a gloomy first week for Germany, after Borussia Dortmund went down 2-0 at Arsenal and last year's finalists Bayer Leverkusen were hammered 6-2 at Olympiakos Piraeus.

It may be too early to draw any serious conclusions about the likely winners of Europe's top club competition but few would bet against at least one Spanish side being present for the final at Manchester United's Old Trafford next May.

Barcelona were only stopped by Real in the semi-finals last season and although doubts remain about their defence they will feel they have enough attacking options to cause trouble for anyone.

Valencia reached the final 2000 and 2001, going down to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, only to miss out on qualification last term.

After winning the Spanish title they returned to the top European table in sparkling form and might easily have bettered the 2-0 scoreline against Liverpool.

Deportivo, who have made the quarter-finals for the last two years, showed they have nothing to fear after handing Bayern Munich their first home defeat in the Champions League in five years.

"This team keeps on making history," Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said in reaction to his side's performance against Bayern. "It's not an easy place to come and win but we deserved it."

Barca, Valencia and Depor are all likely to have a strong say in the competition but the overwhelming favourites remain Real Madrid, European Cup winners in three of the last five seasons.

A trip to AS Roma looked a potentially tricky start but with two goals from Guti and one from Raul, the highest score in Champions League history, Real came through with ease.

"We played better football but we also showed more effort, fighting harder," Guti told Spanish sports daily Marca. "They're the sort of values that make us stronger."

In their next group C game, against Genk on September 25, Guti is likely to make way for the club's new striker, a certain Brazilian forward by the name of Ronaldo.

"It's not going to be easy to beat us," Guti warned. "We're a great team."