Rangers stifle lacklustre United

Soccer - Champions League Round-up: Manchester United were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Rangers in their opening Champions…

Peter Crouch (L) scores for Tottenham during their Champions League Group A draw against Werder Bremen at the Weser Stadium (Photograph: Christian Charisius/Reuters)
Peter Crouch (L) scores for Tottenham during their Champions League Group A draw against Werder Bremen at the Weser Stadium (Photograph: Christian Charisius/Reuters)

Soccer - Champions League Round-up:Manchester United were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Rangers in their opening Champions League Group C match at Old Trafford while Tottenham had to settle for a draw away to Werder Bremen.

United, the three-time European champions, who made 10 changes from the team which drew 3-3 with Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, dominated possession but lacked the creativity to break down the massed Scottish defence.

United made few clear-cut chances, midfielder Darron Gibson going closest to breaking the deadlock with a fizzing 20-metre shot which flew just past the post.

The hosts' rhythm was disrupted when Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia suffered a serious-looking ankle injury and England striker Wayne Rooney, recalled after missing the Everton game following his personal problems, had a quiet match.

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Werder Bremen recovered from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in their opening Group A match with a goal either side of halftime.

Tottenham grabbed an early 2-0 lead through a Petri Pasanen own goal and a header by striker Peter Crouch as Bremen, lacking injured central defenders Naldo and Per Mertesacker as well as striker Claudio Pizarro, looked dazed early in the first half.

The hosts cut the deficit through Hugo Almeida two minutes before the break and levelled when midfielder Marko Marin shook off his marker to fire home from outside the box in the 47th minute on a rainy night.

Bremen twice came close to snatching victory in the second half but neither Marin nor substitute Aaron Hunt could keep their close-range efforts from sailing just over the bar and Spurs went away with a point on their Champions League debut.

Lionel Messi netted two superb goals, had a penalty saved and twice rattled the woodwork as Barcelona romped to a 5-1 comeback victory over Panathinaikos in Group D.

The Greek champions stunned the home side in the 20th minute when Sidney Govou fired them in front on their first foray upfield before World Player of the Year Messi levelled with a sublime chip two minutes later.

Spain striker David Villa swept home from a corner just after the half hour and Messi scored with a low shot after exchanging passes with Xavi and Pedro and ripping through the Panathinaikos defence on the stroke of halftime.

Pedro was on hand with just over 10 minutes remaining to poke the ball in after Messi's effort from an acute angle struck both uprights and Daniel Alves completed the rout with a looping header in added time.

Jittery Inter Milan began their defence by taking the lead and then coming from behind to draw 2-2 at Twente Enschede in a rain-hit Group A opener.

Wesley Sneijder, booed by some home fans on his return to the Netherlands, put the visitors ahead after 13 minutes when he slotted home after Diego Milito's shot had been parried.

The Dutch champions soon hit back with an unstoppable Theo Janssen free kick before Milito, enduring a difficult start to the season having been inspirational last term, glanced in an own goal from a corner.

Inter reacted quickly to going behind in the downpour and the slick surface helped Samuel Eto'o fire in a superb equaliser from outside the area after 41 minutes following Goran Pandev's layoff.

Champions League Results

Group A
FC Twente 2 Inter Milan 2
Werder Bremen 2 Tottenham 2

Group B
Benfica 2 Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0
Lyon 1 Schalke 04 0 (L)

Group C
Bursaspor 0 Valencia 4
Man Utd 0 Rangers 0

Group D
Barcelona 5 Panathinaikos 1
FC Copenhagen 1 Rubin Kazan 0