Barcelona punish Liverpool, late relief for Bayern

Barcelona immediately stamped their authority on the second phase of the Champions League on Tuesday while holders Bayern Munich and AS Roma of Italy both needed late equalisers to stave off defeat.

Barcelona produced a devastating comeback at Anfield to crush Liverpoool 3-1, avenging their UEFA Cup semifinal loss to the English side last season.

Bayern Munich's much-anticipated rematch with Manchester United was a disappointment, but the Germans were happy to earn a 1-1 draw with Paulo Sergio's 87th-minute equaliser after Ruud van Nistelrooy had put United into a barely-deserved lead.

Roma left it even later in Turkey, with Emerson scoring in the last minute to secure a 1-1 draw against Galatasaray.

In the night's other game Portuguese side Boavista beat French visitors Nantes 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Erwin Sanchez.

DELICIOUS REVENGE

The performance of the second phase's first night was at Anfield, where Barcelona exacted delicious revenge for their UEFA Cup defeat in their group B game against Liverpool.

Michael Owen's sharp finish -- his 21st goal in his last 23 games -- put the home side in front after 27 minutes.

But he missed a sitter soon afterwards and Barcelona took full advantage.

Dutchman Patrick Kluivert equalised before halftime and wonderful finishes by Fabio Rochemback and Marc Overmars crowned a dominant second-half display by the Spaniards.

It was caretaker manager Phil Thompson's first loss since he took charge of the team after manager Gerard Houllier underwent heart surgery on October 13.

In Turkey Emerson swivelled to score a deserved 90th-minute leveller for Roma in their group B clash with Galatasaray, who did not concede a goal in their three first-phase home matches.

Galatasaray had the best of the first half and went ahead in the 22nd minute when defender Sebastien Perez slammed a left-footed shot into the roof of the Roma net.

BAYERN STIFLED

At the Olympic Stadium in Munich, United shrugged off the absence of winger Ryan Giggs to stifle Bayern in front of their own fans.

The group A match looked on course for stalemate until Van Nistelrooy gobbled up a sharp pass from substitute Mickael Silvestre to put United ahead against the team they dramatically beat in the 1999 final.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's side, who eliminated United from last year's quarter-finals, rode their luck when Roy Keane hit the bar with four minutes left.

Sergio ensured they made the most of it by striking the equaliser low under Fabien Barthez a minute later, after an error by Silvestre.

Boavista top group A after rubbing salt into the wounds of Nantes, the French champions who are currently bottom of their domestic league.

Bolivian striker Erwin Sanchez, a last-minute inclusion in the side after a weekend injury, scored the winner after 24 minutes following a flick by Brazilian striker Elpidio Silva.

In Tuesday's UEFA Cup third round first leg matches Hapoel Tel Aviv, conquerors of English club Chelsea in the previous round, secured a 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Moscow in Israel thanks to an 89th-minute Assi Domb goal.

French side Girondins Bordeaux, the 1996 finalists, beat visiting Dutch side Roda JC Kerkrade 1-0.