United do just enough

Champions League review:Manchester United got the three Champions League points they needed at home to Bursaspor but it was far from impressive from an under-strength home side. In Milan, Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick for 10-man Spurs but Internazionale bagged four in the first half to edge a cracking tie.

Wayne Rooney's assertion this afternoon that United is a club going in the wrong direction appeared accurate this evening as United struggle to create clearcut chances against very poor Group C opponents that would have been ruthlessy disposed of in years gone by.

The England striker has confirmed he wants to leave the club because he cannot see United competing for trophies like they used to. The performance of the side Alex Ferguson sent out at Old Trafford this evening, suggested he may have a point.

When asked about Rooney's comments after the game, Ferguson pointed to United’s trophy haul but said the door was still open for his star striker to change his mind.

“I’ve not read it all, I’ve seen bits on TV — we’ll have a view of it tomorrow and see where we go from there," he told Sky Sports 2. “We’ll probably put it to bed tomorrow. The door is open, we’re that kind of club that we want to keep good players, particularly when they’re as good as that.”

Rangersare second to United in Group C after a 1-1 draw with Valenciaat Ibrox. Maurice Edu headed the Scottish side ahead in the first half but found his own net seconds after the restart to ensure the Spaniards got something from the game.

At the San Siro, Spurswere given a baptism of fire by the defending champions as Rafael Benitez and Harry Redknapp went head-to-head again. Javier Zanetti (pictured) gave the homeside the lead in the second minute when he swept the ball past Huerrelho Gomes to complete a sweeping move.

Samuel Eto'o fired home a penalty minutes later after Gomes was dismissed for a crunching foul on Jonathan Biabiany and the game was seemingly put to bed whe Dejan Stankovic added a third in the 14th minute.

However, it was just as well Eto'o beat substitute Carlo Cudicini before the break because Bale mounted a one-man comeback in the second half by drilling three left-foot shots - two in injury-time - home to restore pride and raise his profile on the big stage.

Both FC Twenteand Werder Bremenremain winless in Group A after sharing a 1-1 draw in a keenly contested encounter.

Theo Janssen opened the scoring for the hosts after 75 minutes but substitute Marko Arnautovic popped up with the equaliser for Bremen just five minutes later.

Lyonmade it three wins from three Champions League Group B matches with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to 10-man Benfica.

Goals in either half from Jimmy Briand and Lisandro Lopez were enough to see off the Portuguese, for whom Nicolas Gaitan was dismissed before half-time.

Raul grabbed a brace to set Schalkeen route to a 3-1 victory as they dominated Hapoel Tel Aviv.

A further strike from Jose Manuel Jurado ensured Schalke go second in Group B, although there was still time for Itay Shechter to grab a late consolation for the visitors.

Lionel Messi struck two hugely contrasting goals as Barcelonaclimbed to the top of Group D after squeezing past erstwhile leaders FC Copenhagenat the Nou Camp.

Messi broke the deadlock with a thunderous effort in the 19th minute to cap a fine opening from Barca, but the hosts struggled to finish off their in-form opponents and survived a number of second-half scares before the Argentinian ace tapped home from close range in stoppage time to secure the points.

There were no goals in a drab Champions League Group D encounter in Athens tonight.

Panathinaikosclaimed their first point in the tournament and Rubin Kazandoubled their total after drawing with Barcelona.