None of the three Russian clubs managed to get the win they needed to boost their attempts to reach the knockout rounds.

Newly-crowned Russian champions Zenit were held 2-2 by Nurnberg who picked up their first point in Group A.

Angelos Charisteas gave the visitors a surprise first-half lead before two goals in three second-half minutes from Pavel Pogrebniak and Aleksei Ionov put Zenit in front.

But Leon Benko headed Nurnberg level just minutes later.

Lokomotiv Moscow had an even worse night with a 1-0 defeat at home to FC Copenhagen in Group B.

Morten Nordstrand's second-half penalty was enough for the visitors to secure victory over the Russians, who were reduced to 10 men late on when Emir Spahic was given his marching orders.

Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow battled out a goalless draw on Thursday to remain in the hunt to advance from Group E.

Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic came back from a goal down against Elfsborg of Sweden to record their first win in Group C at the Boras Arena.

Elfsborg had taken a first-half lead through striker Mathias Svensson in the 31st minute but midfielder Stefan Ishizaki then wasted a chance to make it 2-0 when he saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Petr Pizanowski.

Ivo Taborsky equalised in the 67th minute and fellow striker Noel Alexandre Mendy put the visitors ahead before Petr Vorisek netted a late free-kick to seal the 3-1 win.

Rafael van der Vaart scored one and created another as Hamburg went top of UEFA Cup Group D with a convincing 3-0 win over Rennes.

The Holland international got the ball rolling with a neat finish on the half-hour mark and provided the assist for Eric Choupo-Moting to make it 2-0 six minutes from time.

Mohamed Zidan wrapped up the rout with an 89th-minute penalty.

Hakan Sukur breathed new life into Galatasaray's UEFA Cup campaign with a virtuoso display as the Turkish giants claimed a 3-0 victory over 10-man Panionios in Athens.

Serkan Calik's strike after a Sukur flick put Gala ahead five minutes after half-time and Rigobert Song's penalty in the 63rd minute put the visitors in firm control before Sukur sealed the win.

Fiorentina held AEK Athens to a 1-1 draw in a Group C encounter.

Fiorentina forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo opened the scoring on 29 minutes only for team-mate Federico Balzaretti to deflect Julio Cesar's strike into his own net five minutes later.

Helsingborg climbed to the top of Group H with a commanding 3-0 victory over hapless Austria Vienna.

Second-half goals from Olafur Ingi Skulason and Razak Omotoyossi (two) secured a second win for the Swedish club.

Eirik Bakke's first goal in this season's competition gave Brann the 2-1 victory over 10-man Dinamo Zagreb which keeps their chances of qualifying from Group D alive and kicking.

There was a double blow for Dinamo in first-half injury-time as Gordon Schildenfeld was sent off and Olafur Orn Bjarnason fired in the penalty to give Brann the lead.

Ognjen Vukojevic put the visitors back on level terms early in the second half before Bakke netted the winner for the Norwegian champions.

FC Zurich are looking good for a place in the knockout phase after their second win in two Group E games, a 2-0 triumph at the expense of Toulouse who are now eliminated from qualification contention.

Hannu Tihinen gave the Swiss champions the lead shortly before the break and after the interval Rafael De Araujo converted the penalty that took the game away from Toulouse.