|
Berne: Yuto Nagatomo scored a stoppage time equaliser to spare Inter Milan a humiliating home defeat against Russia’s Rubin Kazan as the Europa League’s 48-team group stage got under way on Thursday.
Titleholders Atletico Madrid won 3-0 at Hapoel Tel Aviv but Athletic Bilbao, the side they beat in last season’s final, struggled to a 1-1 draw at home to Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, another Israeli side.
Among the other matches of the 24 played, Liverpool won 5-3 at Young Boys in an enthralling but blunder-prone tie and Tottenham Hotspur had two goals harshly disallowed in a goalless draw at home to Lazio.
The outstanding individual performances were from Chile striker Eduardo Vargas, who grabbed a hat-trick in Napoli’s 4-0 win over AIK Stockholm.
Lazio, meanwhile, are facing disciplinary action for racist behaviour of their fans during the match as Uefa opened a case against the club on Friday. Monkey chants were reportedly directed at Tottenham players Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend.
| 
