Berbatov leads Spurs to victory in Istanbul

Bulgaria's Dimitar Berbatov underlined his credentials as one of the top players involved in the UEFA Cup with a fine goal in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-0 away win over Besiktas in their opening Group B game yesterday.

Spurs were doggedly defending a 1-0 lead against the Turkish side when Berbatov, coming into the box from the right, turned a defender one way and the goalkeeper the other before slotting the ball low into the middle of the net in the 63rd minute.

Hossam Ghaly put the London side, twice tournament winners, ahead just past the half hour when his late shot was parried by the keeper but rebounded into the goal off the Spurs midfielder.

Berbatov's former club Bayer Leverkusen, who sold the Bulgarian international to Spurs for 11 million pounds ($20.5 million) in May, earned a vital point after a 1-1 draw at Club Bruges, of Belgium.

Bernd Schneider put the Germans ahead after 35 minutes but Philippe Clement netted the equaliser two minutes into the second half.

Palermo, the Italian side who eliminated West Ham United from the group phase, also had to come from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 away in Group H with Cristian Zaccardo scoring the winner three minutes from time.

In the same group, Newcastle United won the other Anglo-Turkish encounter played at St James's Park after edging Fenerbahce 1-0.

Anton Sibierski netted the winner for Glenn Roeder's side 11 minutes from time when he stabbed the ball home from close in.

Blackburn Rovers also won away, recovering from a goal down to beat Poland's Wisla Krakow 2-1 in Group E.

The Premier League side trailed at the break thanks to a fortunate goal credited to Roberto Cantoro - his driven shot took a huge deflection off Tugay to leave keeper Brad Friedel stranded.

Savage on the mark

Eleven minutes into the second half Robbie Savage rose to head home Bentley's fine cross from the right to make it 1-1.

Both sides tried to win the game in the closing stages, but it was Blackburn who grabbed the winner in the 90th minute.

Substitute Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy both had shots well saved in the same move before Bentley finally found the net from the second rebound.

Rangers became the first Scottish club to win a European tie in Italy with a sumptuous display to sink Livorno in the driving rain.

Charlie Adam fired a stunning volley on 27 minutes and Kris Boyd made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 30 minutes.

Cristiano Lucarelli scored with a controversial penalty on 32 minutes after Rodriguez was judged to have fouled Vigiani.

The Scottish side soon restored their two-goal advantage when Novo drilled home Boyd's headed pass on 34 minutes.

Lucarelli scrambled home his second late on but Rangers held on.

Panathinaikos beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0 at home in Group G, while Paris St Germain travelled to Romania and drew 0-0 with Rapid Bucharest.

Parma scored an impressive away win after beating OB Odense 2-1 in Denmark. Daniele Dessena and Igor Budan were the goalscorers for the Serie A side.

In the other Group D match, Spanish side Osasuna were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at home by Heerenveen, of the Netherlands.

The same fate fell to holders Sevilla, in Group C, when they could only manage a 0-0 draw at Slovakia's Slovan Liberec.