Inter Milan defeats Werder Bremen, 4-0, in European Champions League play
Defending champion Inter Milan, riding a hat trick by Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, roared past Werder Bremen, 4-0, in Milan on Wednesday, signaling that the Italian club will not easily relinquish its European Champions League title.
Things were a little more difficult for two former champions with lofty aspirations in this year’s tournament. Barcelona, the 2009 winner, traveled to Russia and was tied, 1-1, by Rubin Kazan, the same team that defeated it in Spain last season and held it to a tie in Russia.
“We did it last year and surprised the whole world,” Christian Noboa, Rubin Kazan’s Ecuadorean midfielder, said before the match. “Why not do it again?”
It was Noboa who gave the Russian side the lead in the first half, scoring on a penalty kick after a rash challenge by Barcelona defender Dani Alves. It took the Catalan team until the hour mark before it tied the score, on a penalty kick by David Villa.
Despite the tie, Rubin Kazan Coach Kurban Berdyev harbored no illusions.
“There is no doubt that taking a point against Barcelona is a noble achievement,” he said. “It’s too early to talk about our chances of qualifying. Barcelona are one of the favorites and so of course one place in the knockout round is reserved for them.”
Sixteen of the 32 teams will advance to the knockout phase after round-robin play.
Manchester United, the winner in 2008, made the most a of a trip to Spain by defeating Valencia, 1-0, on a goal five minutes from the end by 22-year-old Mexican international striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
“The way he took his chance, it was like shelling peas,” said United Coach Alex Ferguson, no doubt aware that “little pea” is Hernandez’s Spanish nickname.
“He has work to do on his physique, but you cannot take away from the fact that he is a fantastic finisher.”
Said Valencia Coach Unai Emery: “We can be satisfied with everything except the result.”
But it was Inter Milan’s performance that was the best of the day, with Eto’o the standout performer. He scored twice in the first half and also set up a goal for Wesley Sneijder before completing his hat trick in the second half.
“Eto’o had a brilliant game because the whole team was very good,” said Inter Coach Rafael Benitez. “He is dangerous when plays in the middle, but also when he starts on the left.”
“We have many champions and many young, talented players; the secret is finding the perfect balance.”
For Werder Bremen Coach Thomas Schaaf, the secret will be finding the right words to right the ship.
“We made a lot of individual mistakes but also a lot of errors as a team,” Schaaf said.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, four second-half goals powered Tottenham Hotspur to a 4-1 victory over Twente Enschede in the rain in London, a result that left Spurs Coach Harry Redknapp crowing.
“You can’t ask for more than that,” he said. “If people can’t enjoy that, they can’t enjoy anything.”
Two goals by Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, both on penalty kicks, and one apiece by Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale were more than enough to dispose of the Dutch club.
Also winning easily was Olympique Lyon, which traveled to Israel and defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, 3-1, and FC Copenhagen, which made a trip to Greece and shut out Panathinaikos, 2-0, in Athens.
Playing at home in Germany, Schalke ’04 also blanked its opponent, Benfica of Portugal, 2-0, in Gelsenkirchen on late goals by Jefferson Farfan and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Scotland’s Rangers won, 1-0, as they edged Bursaspor of Turkey on a Steven Naismith goal in Glasgow.
Champions League play resumes on Oct. 19.
grahame.jones@latimes.com
