Real, Milan victorious

LONDON (AP):

Real Madrid and AC Milan began their Champions League campaigns with 2-0 victories yesterday, while English rivals Chelsea and Arsenal opened with big-scoring wins.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho presided over the nine-time champions' triumph against Ajax in the same Santiago Bernabeu stadium where he won last season's final with Inter Milan.

"We pressed a lot and we didn't let Ajax play how they like to play," Mourinho said. "My forwards just weren't sharp in front of goal."

Milan, Madrid's biggest rival in Group G, beat Auxerre after two goals from new-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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.

In the Spanish capital, Madrid went ahead in the 31st minute when midfielder Xabi Alonso's corner was deflected in by Ajax defender Vurnon Anita.

The second goal took until the 73rd to arrive, with striker Gonzalo Higuain well placed at the far post to score from Mesut Oezil's cross.

"It looked like boys against men tonight," Ajax coach Martin Jol said. "They clearly dominated the game."

Broke the deadlock

In the other group match, Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock in the 66th after linking up with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ronaldinho.

The Sweden striker's second came three minutes later, completing a slick counter-attacking move that began with Robinho carrying the ball from defence, before Ronaldinho's deft pass reached Ibrahimovic.

In the other Group F match, defender Cesar Azpilicueta scored a late own-goal to give Spartak Moscow a 1-0 win at Marseille, which wasted several scoring chances. It was a close match in the other Group H encounter, with Shakhtar Donetsk captain Dario Srna's second-half free kick giving the Ukrainian champions a 1-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade.

The goals came quicker in the group's other match. Ionut Rada and Lacina Traore scored inside 12 minutes for Cluj, clinching a 2-1 victory over FC Basel, which pulled one back in first-half injury time from Valentin Stoker's header.