Spartak defeated last season's winners Real Madrid in the Russian capital 2-1 yesterday to stamp their authority on Group C. Yegor Titov scored Spartak's winner with 12 minutes left, leaving the Muscovites as the only team in this year's competition with a 100 per cent record after two games.

While there were also wins for Inter Milan, Barcelona, Ajax Amsterdam and Arsenal yesterday, it is the less famous teams who are currently setting the pace in the continent's major soccer competition. Of the six group leaders, only Barcelona (Group D) are established European powers.

Last year's losing finalists Juventus endured their second successive draw, while Bayern Munich scrambled a 2-2 draw with Manchester United thanks to a late misjudgment from Peter Schmeichel. Brazilian Giovane Elber spared Bayern a second embarrassing defeat following their loss to Brondby a fortnightago in the dying seconds after Schmeichel failed dismally to reach a high ball.

Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff sidefooted home three minutes into injury time to give inter a much-needed 1-0 victory in Austria over Sturm Graz.

Brazil's Sonny Anderson was Barcelona's two-goal hero against Brondby at the Nou Camp. Anderson gave the Catalan side the lead after 42 minutes and headed the clincher five minutes from time.

In Group A Ajax earned a 2-1 home win over Porto of Portugal thanks to Finn Jari Litmanen's 86th-minute penalty. The goal was Litmanen's 24th for Ajax in Europe, taking him past Johan Cryuff's club record.

Central defenders Tony Adams and Martin Keown scored in the second half at Wembley to give Arsenal a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Panathinaikos in Group E.