 Barthez was playing only his second game since the end of his ban |
Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was in inspirational form as his side beat Uefa Cup holders CSKA Moscow 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. The former Manchester United star was making his European return after a six-month ban for spitting at a referee - and he made some stunning saves.
Sabri Lamouchi's header and Mamadou Niang's close-range finish gave Marseille the lead before half-time.
Barthez was finally beaten by a Vagner Love shot with 10 minutes left.
The group's other game was a goalless draw between Dinamo Bucharest and Heerenveen.
In Group A, Viking Stavanger sprang one of the biggest surprises of the night by beating Monaco 1-0, thanks to Nkosinathi Nhelko's first-half strike.
Rafael van der Vaart's goal ensured that Hamburg also picked up maximum points as they beat CSKA Sofia by an identical scoreline.
The only game in Group B on Thursday was a triumph on the road for Palermo, who beat Israel's Maccabi Petah Tikvah 2-1, with Christian Terlizzi grabbing the 77th-minute winner.
Espanyol had beaten Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 on Wednesday night in a game re-arranged because of other fixtures in the Russian capital.
Steaua Bucharest made a stunning start to their Group C campaign, with Nicolae Dica's brace helping them secure a 4-0 win over French side Lens.
Hertha Berlin also got off to a winning start, beating Hamstad 1-0 in Sweden through a second-half goal from Andreas Neuendorf.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's 10th-minute goal proved enough for Middlesbrough to beat Grasshoppers in Group D.
And AZ Alkmaar also triumphed away from home as Shota Arveladze and Tarik Sektioui found the target in their 2-1 win over Dnipro.
In Group E, Basle had Patrick Mueller sent off as they crashed to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Racing Strasbourg.
Amara Diane and Arthur Boka had already scored the French side's goals by the time Mueller saw red.
A late goal by Leandro Cufre gave Roma victory over Tromso.
The Italian side led through Sammy Kuffour's goal but Ole Martin Aarst equalised and Cufre only secured the three points with six minutes left.
Two goals in the last three minutes from Jon Dahl Tomasson and Danijel Ljuboja gave Stuttgart victory over Rennes in Group G, and the German side top the table ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk, who beat PAOK Salonika 1-0.
Jared Borgetti's second goal for Bolton, and his second in the Uefa Cup, earned his side a point after Ailton had put Besiktas ahead.
Elsewhere in Group H, Zenit St Petersburg beat Guimaraes 2-1.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version