Bayern take control

GROUP A: Bayern Munich are almost assured of a place in the knockout phase

GROUP A: Bayern Munich are almost assured of a place in the knockout phase. Goals by Sebastian Deisler and Martin Demichelis secured their 2-1 home victory over Serie A leaders Juventus, the German team's third successive win in Group A.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a last minute consolation for the Italian side.

Club Bruges earned their first Champions League victory of the season, beating Rapid Vienna away 1-0 thanks to a scrappy Bosko Balaban goal in a match often dominated by the Viennese.

GROUP B: Ajax Amsterdam's Greek striker Ioannis Anastasiou struck twice to clinch a 2-0 victory over Swiss side Thun.

READ MORE

The win takes Ajax up one place to second with four points behind group leaders Arsenal, who have a maximum nine points.

Anastasiou scored in the 36th minute after holding off Ljubo Milicevic and placing the ball inside the near post to give Ajax the lead. The third-choice striker struck again 10 minutes into the second half.

GROUP C: Barcelona's winning start to their campaign came to a halt when they were held to a goalless draw by Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium.

The result leaves Barcelona top with seven points from three games. Panathinaikos are second with four along with Udinese who drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen.

Antonio Di Natale grabbed an 86th minute equaliser as Udinese fought back for a 1-1 draw at home. Werder took the lead thanks to an own goal from Felipe.

GROUP D: A spectacular strike from midfielder Manuel Fernandes earned Benfica a 1-1 away draw against Villarreal at the Madrigal - a result that sees Manchester United continue in top spot of the group.

Villarreal seemed set for their first win when Juan Roman Riquelme put the Spaniards ahead from the penalty spot after Ricardo Rocha upended Juan Pablo Sorin 17 minutes from time.

But Benfica, who had dominated the first half, refused to fold and hit back four minutes later through Fernandes.