Champions off the mark

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was a relieved man after the European champions finally got their title defence rolling with a 3-1 win away at Spartak Moscow yesterday.

Two goals from Brazilian striker Elber and one from Bosnian Hasan Salihamidzic gave an understrength Bayern a convincing Group H Champions League win, atoning for a lacklustre 0-0 draw at home to Sparta Prague last week.

"Both teams had unsuccessful games and that was why this match was so important for us both," Hitzfeld said after the match, reflecting on Spartak's own 2-2 draw with Feyenoord in the first round of games.

The Russian champions began the match far better than last week, but a defensive lapse allowed Salihamidzic to head home a deep cross from influential Guinean midfielder Pablo Thiam.

"We had chances in the first half but couldn't capitalise on all of them and were actually lucky to score,"

After the game, Hitzfeld was full of praise for a Bayern team lacking the sidelined Stefan Effenberg, Mehmet Scholl and Carsten Jancker.

Bayer Leverkusen extended their impressive start to the campaign by fighting back from one goal down for a convincing 2-1 win over Barcelona last night.

Barcelona took the lead when attacking midfielder Luis Enrique calmly flicked the ball under the bar from inside the area following a counter attack in the 22nd minute.

Leverkusen woke up after the break, equalising seven minutes into the second half with a thunderous low drive from outside the box by substitute Yldiray Basturk.

The German side took the points when striker Oliver Neuville hit the winner by volleying home a Bernd Schneider cross in the 69th minute.

Rosenborg Trondheim equalised from the spot two minutes from time to force a 1-1 draw against Juventus in their Group E game after a match dominated by the Italians who hit the woodwork three times.

Juventus dictated the game on a slippery pitch in Trondheim but only managed to break through in the 85th minute when Alessandro del Piero knocked in the ball from 16 metres.

But Bent Skammelsrud equalised in the 88th minute from the penalty spot after Harald Brattbakk was tripped by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Del Piero, Uruguayan Fabian O'Neill and Gianluca Zambrotta had hit the crossbar or the upright before the Italian Serie A leaders scored.