Samuel Eto'o scored a hat trick and Wesley Sneijder added a goal as defending champion Inter Milan routed Werder Bremen 4-0 at the San Siro on Wednesday in its first home Champions League match since winning the trophy in May.
It was a particularly impressive performance from Eto'o, who was only asked to lead the attack at short notice after Diego Milito was ruled out earlier in the day with a thigh injury and has now hit 11 goals in all competitions this season.
Bremen had few answers to his speed and movement. The German side threatened early on, but Inter took advantage of weak defending to race into a 3-0 lead at halftime.
"In the past Samuel has played in the middle and on the right," Inter coach Rafael Benitez said. "This year he has been playing more to the left and been getting nearer the goal. Tonight he played as the central striker and when he is near the goal he is always dangerous."
Inter took the lead in the 21st after Esteban Cambiasso took advantage of indecision in Bremen's midfield and set Eto'o free in the area.
The Cameroon striker doubled his tally when he ran onto a long pass by Lucio. He then set up Sneijder for the third in the 34th and completed his hat trick when he raced clear and rounded Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese to score with nine minutes to go.
"The defense didn't play well tonight, but it wasn't all their fault," Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said. "The team didn't play well and we made too many individual errors and didn't play as a team."
Despite the final score, it was Bremen who enjoyed the early chances. In the third minute striker Hugo Almeida chipped Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar as he rushed off his line, but Lucio raced back to clear the danger.
A minute later Almeida went close again when he hit a low free kick that Cesar pushed away for a corner.
As early as the seventh though, Bremen showed its vulnerability to balls played behind the defense. Sneijder slipped a pass to Jonathan Biabiany, whose cross to the far post was headed wide by Coutinho.
Coutinho then set up Sneijder, but Wiese pushed the Dutchman's shot away for a corner.
In the 20th Almeida wasted another opportunity. Borowski crossed and despite being unmarked in front of goal the Portuguese volleyed wide.
"We can talk about the chances we had and the chances we missed," Schaaf said. "Inter's system allowed it to counterattack quickly and score. The key difference tonight between us and Inter was when Inter players had a chance to score, they took it."
Inter took the lead after more hesitant Bremen defending. Daniel Jensen dithered in possession near the area, Cambiasso managed to poke the ball to Eto'o, who ran on into the area and shot past Wiese.
Eto'o added his second six minutes later. Lucio hit a long pass over Bremen's defense, and the Cameroon striker controlled the ball before shooting low past Wiese.
Dejan Stankovic forced Wiese into an athletic save in the 32nd, but Inter soon had its third. Eto'o turned provider by finding Sneijder in space behind the Bremen defense and the Dutchman lashed home a powerful shot.
"It is always important to win, not least to be top of the group," Benitez said. "It is important to win your early matches. We need to make sure we qualify first, then we can concentrate on winning the group."
After half time Inter was in control throughout, though it had to cope without goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who was replaced by Luca Castellazzi at the break, and then lost Lucio to injury in the 60th. The Brazilian went down clutching his foot and was stretchered off.
It will be a concern for Inter coach Rafael Benitez, who is already without Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel ahead of the clash with Juventus on Sunday.
"He has had a few problems with his knee over the last few weeks, but he is such a dedicated player that he has wanted to play," Benitez said. "It is never good when you have to take players off, but with Julio Cesar it was just a precaution. We have four days to work with them to get them ready."
It didn't stop Inter though and as the match came to a close, Sneijder and Eto'o again linked up to complete the rout.
"We knew that Eto'o and Sneijder were great players," Schaaf said, "but I'm not sure if tonight was their birthdays as we gave them so many presents."
