Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave another top class performance in this one despite not getting on the score sheet.

The Swede was instrumental in the match, creating both goals for Brazilians Mancini and Adriano, as Inter defeated a wilful Panathinaikos side 2 – 0 in Athens in the opening game of the Milan giants’ Champions League Group B. A good start for the Nerazzurri will please their new coach Jose Mourinho and alleviate some of the pressure on him to perform.

Teams
Panathinaikos: Galinovic; Vyntra, Simao, Goumas, Nilsson (Hristodoulopoulos 72); Moon (Souza 81), Gilberto Silva, Mattos, Cleyton, Salpigidis, Karagounis (Ivanschitz 35)

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Vieira (Muntari 62); Quaresma (Figo 62), Ibrahimovic, Mancini (Adriano 81)

Goals
Mancini 26 (I)
Adriano 84 (I)

Peter Pedroncelli - footballitaliano.org

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool to a 2-1 victory away at Marseille this evening. It was the first night of Champions League since Man United won the trophy back in 2008 and it certainly lived up to it’s billing.

Marseille got off to a flyer, Lorik Cana putting the French side ahead early after breaking Liverpool’s off-side after a superb ball through by Benoit Cheyrou. Rafa Benitez’ men hit back straight away with captain Gerrard bagging his first of the night with a terrific finish from all of 25-yards.

Ryan Babel, the hero of Saturday when Liverpool beat Man United, was taken down inside the penalty area just minutes after the equaliser to give Gerrard the opportunity to double his tally on the night. After the referee ordered Gerrard to re-take the penalty, the England international confidently placed the ball in the same corner.

Marseille had several chances to equalise during the second-half but they also left themselves short at the back at times. Ryan Babel had a chance to increase the lead near the end but as it was, the Reds held onto their advantage. Terrific come-back by Liverpool, which should set themselves up nicely for a first place finish in Group D.

Elsewhere it finished : Chelsea 4-0 Bordeaux, PSV 0-3 Atletico Madrid, Roma 1-2 CFR Cluj, Werder Bremen 0-0 Anorthosis Famagusta, Basle 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk, Panathinaikos 0-2 Inter Milan, Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Lisbon.

What: Champions League, Group Stage, Matchday 1
Who: Chelsea (0pts) vs Girondins de Bordeaux (0pts)
When: Tuesday September 16, 2008, 20:45 (CET)
Where: Stamford Bridge, London

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea:

13 September Vs Manchester City (A) WON 3-1 (Premier League)
31 August Vs Tottenham Hostpur (H) DREW 1-1 (Premier League)
24 August Vs Wigan Athletic (A) WON 1-0 (Premier League)
17 August Vs Portsmouth (H) WON 4-0 (Premier League)
01 August Vs Lokomotiv Moscow (A) DREW 1-1 (Friendly)

Girondins de Bordeaux:

13 September Vs Olympique Marseille (H) DREW 1-1 (Ligue Un)
31 August Vs Lille (A) LOST 2-1 (Ligue Un)
24 August Vs Nantes (H) WON 2-0 (Ligue Un)
16 August Vs Paris St Germain (A) WON 1-0 (Ligue Un)
09 August Vs Caen (H) WON 2-1 (Ligue Un)

Chelsea
Possible Starting XI: Cech - A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Bosingwa - Mikel, Deco, Ballack, Lampard, J Cole - Anelka.

Girondins de Bordeaux:
Possible starting XI: Ramé - Placente, Diawara, Henrique, Chalmé - Diarra - Wendel, Gouffran, Gourcuff - Cavenaghi, Chamakh.