Milan: Samuel Eto`o scored a scintillating hat-trick for holders Inter Milan in the Champions League but Lionel Messi`s magic went missing as Barcelona laboured to a draw with their Russian bogey team.
While Rafa Benitez celebrated a 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen and his first home win in Europe as Inter coach, Pep Guardiola`s Barcelona were forced to scrap for a 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan in Group D.
Manchester United savoured a rare win in Spain when they beat Valencia 1-0 to go joint-top of Group C with Rangers, 1-0 winners over Bursaspor, while troubled Olympique Lyon won 3-1 at Hapoel Tel Aviv to lead Group B.
While Eto`o was lighting up the San Siro, Tottenham Hotspur`s Rafael van der Vaart chalked up a different kind of triple when he missed a penalty, scored and was sent off in a 4-1 home win against Twente Enschede, taking his side level with Inter at the top of Group A.
There was no rivalling Eto`o for the performance of the night, as the Cameroon striker scored two in a six-minute first half burst, helped set up Wesley Sneijder for Inter`s third and completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time.
"I don`t know if it was their birthday today but we gave them too many presents," seethed Werder coach Thomas Schaaf.Barcelona Behind
Where Inter shone as brightly as Eto`o`s brilliant yellow boots, Barcelona struggled with World Player of the Year Messi returning from an ankle injury.
The Spanish champions had to come from behind to salvage a point against the same unglamorous opponents who stunned the then European champions 2-1 at the Nou Camp last season before a 0-0 home draw.
Messi, who scored twice in Barcelona`s opening group D match, came off the bench for the last half-hour but was unable to make the difference with Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov denying the Argentine wizard late on.
Both goals came from the penalty spot, with captain Christian Noboa putting the home side ahead in the 30th minute and David Villa equalising on the hour.
FC Copenhagen pushed Barcelona off the top of the group, with striker Dame N`Doye returning to haunt his former club Panathinaikos, who had former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva sent off, in a surprise 2-0 away win.Villa`s former club Valencia, top of La Liga, failed to convert possession into goals and paid the price against United.
With Wayne Rooney sidelined by injury but Rio Ferdinand returning, United`s new Mexican signing Javier `Little Pea` Hernandez came off the bench to break the deadlock with a clinical finish in the 85th minute of an uninspiring match.
"When he takes his chances it`s like shelling peas, with either foot," said manager Alex Ferguson, savouring what was only United`s second win in 19 away matches in Europe against Spanish opponents.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010, 09:03