Super Cup contenders hit form

FC Porto and Valencia CF warmed up for Friday's UEFA Super Cup with wins in their national equivalents this weekend, while Arsenal FC equalled a 25-year-old record with a thrilling win against Middlesbrough FC.

Porto delight
UEFA Champions League holders Porto, beaten in Monaco last year by AC Milan, opened their domestic campaign in style on Friday night by beating SL Benfica 1-0 to lift the Portuguese Super Cup in Coimbra. Ricardo Quaresma scored on his Porto debut early in the second half to clinch a victory which takes goalkeeper Vitor Baía to the 26th honour of his career, beating Paolo Maldini and Frank Rijkaard's European record.

Valencia lead
Valencia won the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup by the same margin at Real Zaragoza on Saturday. Vicente Rodríguez curled in a free-kick just after the hour a day after signing a new seven-year contract to give the UEFA Cup holders the advantage ahead of Tuesday's return at the Mestalla.

Milan glory
Milan, who will relinquish the continental Super Cup when Valencia meet Porto, picked up the Italian version with a 3-0 victory against S.S. Lazio at the San Siro. The Serie A champions had Andriy Shevchenko to thank, as the Ukrainian striker struck a hat-trick against the Italian Cup holders.

Arsenal record
League action is well under way elsewhere in Europe and not only did a 5-3 victory against Middlesbrough take Arsenal to the top of the Premiership after two games, it also completed a 42-game unbeaten run that equalled Nottingham Forest FC's English top-flight record set in December 1978. Arsenal led 1-0 and trailed 3-1 before Dennis Bergkamp, José Antonio Reyes, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry all scored to turn the game. The champions will now look to create a new record when they play Blackburn Rovers FC at Highbury on Wednesday.

Chelsea win
The only other side to have maximum points from their opening two games are Chelsea FC, who defeated Birmingham City FC 1-0 thanks to Joe Cole's solitary goal. Manchester United FC, who lost to Chelsea last weekend, picked up their first win of the season, a 2-1 home triumph against Premiership newcomers Norwich City FC.

Lyon concern
FC Metz missed out on the chance to go two points clear at the top of France's Ligue 1 on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Olympique Lyonnais at the Saint-Symphorien. However, Lyon striker Giovane Elber fractured his right ankle and is out for three months. RC Lens are top after beating FC Istres 2-0, while still without a win are Paris Saint-Germain FC, who lost 2-1 against Toulouse FC. SM Caen overcame AS Monaco FC 1-0.

Dutch trio cruise
AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord were all in typically emphatic Eredivisie form in recording their second wins of the season. Leaders Feyenoord overcame Willem II 4-0, PSV Eindhoven defeated AZ Alkmaar 5-1 and Ajax saw off NAC Breda 6-2.

Mönchengladbach humbled
There were no Bundesliga fixtures this weekend, but the pick of the German Cup games was VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach's surprise defeat by FC Bayern München Amateurs. Christian Ziege was sent off as Mönchengladbach went out 7-6 on spot-kicks.