First Night, Champions League: Valencia Breaks Leg As United and Spurs Draw

MANCHESTER United and Tottenham were both held to a single point as the 2010 Champions League got off to a less-than fabulous start for the English hopefuls.

At Old Trafford, ultra-defensive Scottish champions Rangers offered no chink of light in a goalless draw against Glaswegian Sir Alex Ferguson’s millionaire stars.

After a distinctly average result, Sir Alex was left to rue the broken leg suffered by Antonio Valencia... and Wayne Rooney’s left ankle looks like a problem to.

The England striker, beset by off-field scandal, looked lacklustre against Walter Smith’s well-organised Gers. After all the hoo-ha surrounding his absence against Everton last Saturday, it looked like he might have been better off spending another match trying to mend his marriage.

Spurs went 2-0 up at Werder Bremen – an own goal and a Peter Crouch header – before Hugo Almeida’s vital reply for the Germans at the Weserstadion just before the break.

The Germans equalised and Crouch missed two glorious chances to win it – one effort from point-blank range actually went backwards as Spurs pushed for an opening win.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scored twice and missed a penalty for Barcelona while Dutch dynamos FC Twente held holders Inter Milan 2-2. Not a great start for Rafa Benitez, the former Liverpool boss now in charge at the San Siro.

The full list of results:

Barcelona 5-1 Panathinaikos

Benfica 2-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Bursaspor 0-4 Valencia

FC Copenhagen 1-0 Rubin Kazan

FC Twente 2-2 Inter Milan

Lyon 1-0 Schalke 04

Man Utd 0-0 Rangers

Werder Bremen 2-2 Tottenham

PETER Crouch missed a glorious late chance to win it for Spurs at Werder Bremen after being put through by Wilson Palacios, but his effort went inches wide of the far post.

Still, a 2-2 draw at the Weserstadion is a far better result than Manchester United’s drab 0-0 draw against unfancied Rangers at Old Trafford.

Seconds to go.

TEN minutes left, and both the English protagonists are still being held. United are running out of time against gritty Rangers and Crouch has just missed a glorious chance to win it 3-2 at the Weserstadion. His point blank attempt actually went backwards.

The goals are coming elsewhere. Valencia are 4-0 up in Turkey against Bursaspor (Pablo Hernandez), Portugal’s Benfica go to 2-0 against Israel’s Hapoel (Oscar Cardozo). Barcelona have got a fourth against Panathinkaikos (Pablo).

RYAN GIGGS comes on for the stricken Valencia. He immediately opens things up, Fletcher and Rooney have chances in the box. Crowd volume turned up. Do it for Valencia is the feeling now.

At the Weserstadion, Almeida nearly bags a second, firing over after being set up by Torsten Frings. It’s still 2-2, but Spurs are regretting that late goal from Werder Bremen just before the break.

At the Camp Nou, Messi has a penalty to complete his hat-trick but misses. Still Barca 3, Panathinaikos 1.

MORE problems for United. I think Valencia has just broken his leg. The boot is at right angles to his left ankle. Panic, call for stretcher. We won’t be seeing much more of him before Christmas. Rooney and the surrounding Rangers players looking upset. Horrible.

Play stopped for an age. 62 minutes on the clock. Concern on all faces.

Less dramatic but more exciting at Bremen, Welsh wonder Bale nearly finds Peter Crouch at the far post but Werder goalkeeper Tim Wiese cuts it out. FC Twente still holding holders Inter 2-2.

Ten changes from Manchester United after their draw with Everton on Saturday and this is the best they can do? Gibson fires in a shot and Valencia seems to have been given a roasting at half-time. He’s actually got two crosses in.

But it’s dire stuff. Rooney still limping about. Wish I was in Bremen, where Spurs still lead 2-1 at the Weserstadion. Will they regret that lapse in the dying seconds of the half?

Erm... YES in the answer.

GOAL: Werder Bremen 2, Spurs 2: Marko Marin’s just equalised. Ouch. And that after Carlo Cudicini had just made a fine save from not-very-German Aaron Hunt. Think his dad was in the British army wasn’t he?

Experts at Old Trafford particularly upset with the lack of penetration from Antonio Valencia. Not providing any width and doesn’t look that bothered about it. Remember that chap Cristiano Ronaldo? Useful, he was. We’ll see him in action for Real Madrid tomorrow.

Bit question is, will Rooney emerge for the second half with that ankle? And here’s another thing, tongue-in-cheek: Is Dimitar Berbatov being rested or punished? Thought he did okay in Rooney’s absence on Saturday.

For Championship followers, leaders QPR have gone 2-0 up against Ipswich – Jamie Mackie’s got both goals. Neil Warnock next England manager? He gets my vote.

Here’s hoping FC Twente can hold on against Inter!

Sir Alex: “It’s hard out there. Ten at the back more or less. We have to create more space in the wide positions, open them up a bit.” Too right.

Half-time and Werder Bremen have brought Spurs fans down to earth a little with a xxth minute header from Hugo Almeida. They remain 2-1 up at the Westerstadion though, thanks to an own goal and a lovely Peter Crouch header. Bad time to concede a goal that, just before half-time.

United fans won’t have enjoyed those 45 goalless minutes against the Scottish champions Rangers – especially with Rooney looking crocked. But how about Inter being held 2-2 at FC Twente? Samuel Eto’o 20 goal in the competition put them on level terms.

Barcelona now 3-1 up against Greeks Panathinaikos and that man Lionel Messi has got two of them. Apparently he’s visiting London tomorrow. A promotional tour, not signing for Arsenal apparently!

Barcelona 3-1 Panathinaikos

Benfica 1-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Bursaspor 0-2 Valencia

FC Copenhagen 0-0 Rubin Kazan

FC Twente 2-2 Inter Milan

Lyon 1-0 Schalke 04

Man Utd 0-0 Rangers

Werder Bremen 1-2 Tottenham

HALF-TIME looms and Wayne Rooney’s night may be over. His left ankle has gone, he’s limping badly. Rangers will be happy to see that – and the goalless scoreline. It’s hardly enthralling for the Manchester United fans on a soggy night at Old Trafford. Rooney staying on, despite the limp.

At the Weserstadion, Spurs are still 2-0 up against Werder Bremen while Dutch champions FC Twente are now locked at 2-2 up against holders Inter, now under the management of former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

Barcelona lead Greece’s Panathinkaikos 2-1 at the Camp Nou.

THREE earlier updates have failed but I’ll give it one more go.

After 40 minutes, it’s pretty dire at Old Trafford with United failing to breach a defensive Rangers.

But at the Weserstadion, Spurs are 2-0 up. An own goal from Petri Pasanen was just the finish Harry Redknapp needed from a Finnish international. Then Peter Crouch made it 2-0... but look, FC Twente have gone 2-1 up against holders Inter!

Barcelona 2-1 Panathinaikos

Benfica 1-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Bursaspor 0-1 Valencia

FC Copenhagen 0-0 Rubin Kazan

FC Twente 2-1 Inter Milan

Lyon 1-0 Schalke 04

Man Utd 0-0 Rangers

Werder Bremen 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

United v Rangers underway at Old Trafford... the line-ups:

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Brown, Ferdinand, Smalling, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Fletcher, Gibson, Park, Rooney, Hernandez. Subs: Van der Sar, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Jonathan Evans, Macheda. 
Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Whittaker, Davis, McCulloch, Edu, Naismith, Miller. Subs: Alexander, Lafferty, Foster, Beattie, Weiss, Little, Hutton. 
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal)

Werder Bremen v Tottenham
Werder Bremen: Wiese, Fritz, Pasanen, Prodl, Silvestre, Frings, Bargfrede, Marin, Wesley, Arnautovic, Hugo Almeida. Subs: Mielitz, Boenisch, Borowski, Hunt, Huseinovic, Wagner, Jensen. 
Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Pletikosa, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Palacios, Gallas, Bassong, Kranjcar. 
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)

So here we are, start of the biggest club tournament on earth (and no, that's not hype) with the following games in the Uefa Champions League tonight. My focus? The Battle of Britain, Manchester United v Rangers, England v Scotland, with Wayne Rooney back in action after an eventful week...

 Barcelona v Panathinaikos, GpD, 19:45

Benfica v Hapoel Tel-Aviv, GpB, 19:45

Bursaspor v Valencia, GpC, 19:45

FC Copenhagen v Rubin Kazan, GpD, 19:45

FC Twente v Inter Milan, GpA, 19:45

Lyon v Schalke 04, GpB, 19:45

Man Utd v Rangers, GpC, 19:45

Werder Bremen v Tottenham, GpA, 19:45