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AC Milan, Real Madrid win Champions League openers

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-16 09:29

ROME - AC Milan and Real Madrid kicked off their Champions League campaigns with 2-0 victories on Wednesday night as English rivals Chelsea and Arsenal opened with high-scoring wins.

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) fights for the ball with Auxerre's Dennis Oliech during their Champions League soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan September 15, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a brace on his Champions League debut for AC Milan in a victory over visiting Auxerre, and new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho presided as the nine-time champions beat Ajax thanks to efforts from Xavi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain.

After Milan struggled to score in the first half, Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock in the 66th after linking up with Kevin Prince Boateng and Ronaldinho.

His second came just three minutes later, and completed a slick counter-attacking move that began with Robinho carrying the ball from the defense and culminated in Ibrahimovic sweeping home Ronaldinho's deft pass.

Before then, Auxerre had the better of the chances. Valter Birsa and Steeven Langil had early shots and Adama Coulibaly headed against the bar.

Real Madrid Mourinho enjoyed a comfortable victory over Ajax at the Bernabeu. The nine-time champions took the lead in the 31st minute when the ball ended in the back of the net after Gonzalo Higuain and Ajax defender Vurnon Anita had challenged for a corner, and then the prolific Higuain made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute to complete a deserved win for Mourinho's men.

The big-spending Spanish giants had countless efforts on goal but a mixture of good goalkeeping from Ajax goalie Maarten Stekelenburg, the woodwork and poor finishing saved Martin Jol's Ajax from a heavy defeat in their Group G opener.

It turned out easier for the English giants of Arsenal and Chelsea to find net before their less illustrious opponents.

Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela each scored twice in Arsenal's 6-0 rout of Portuguese side Braga, while Nicolas Anelka's double helped Chelsea surge to a 4-1 victory over newcomer Zilina.

Bayern Munich, beaten by Inter in the final in May, defeated AS Roma 2-0 in Group E. Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose netted the goals towards the end of what was a frustrating night for Bayern, which spent the entire game trying to break down a catenaccio-inspired Serie A side and almost failed to do so.

Roma set its stall out to defend and, apart from two chances, it rarely threatened the Bayern goal.