LIONEL MESSI was denied a hat-trick but Barcelona put their shock Primera Division defeat to Hercules behind them as they opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a crushing 5-1 win over Panathinaikos.

Ukraine 1 Holland 1

All three Italian sides in action recorded impressive victories in the opening round of UEFA Cup group matches this evening.

Arsenal brushed aside the challenge of Steve McClaren’s FC Twente to secure a place in the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 4-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.

The Football Association have cleared Tottenham of blame following the FA Cup replay against Chelsea when a fan aimed a punch at Frank Lampard.

Captain Edwin van der Sar disagrees with the decision to drop Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mark van Bommel from the Holland squad..

Michael Owen’s first-half goal gave Liverpool an away victory in the UEFA Cup third round, first leg in Holland.