Joy for Jol but more misery for Ramos in UEFA Cup

English Premiership tailenders Tottenham found no respite from their domestic woes Thursday in going down 2-0 at Italy's Udinese in their opening UEFA Cup group match.

Udinese won through with goals from Antonio Di Natale – who scored from the penalty spot after a foul by Spurs' keeper Heurelho Gomes – and Simone Pepe as the Italians emerged victorious at the Stadio Friuli to pile more pressure on the Londoners' coach Juande Ramos.

Ramos elected to leave playmaker David Bentley out of his squad following a magazine article in which the player described the club's start to the campaign, comprising two draws and six defeats in eight games, as “shocking”.

Making matters even worse was a dismissal for Jamie O'Hara, who was booked twice in a minute.

Already reeling from the worst league start in their history Spurs, who won the maiden UEFA Cup tournament in 1972, hardly needed Gomes making a hash of a backpass before bringing down Fabio Quagliarella after 24 minutes.

Di Natale put away the spotkick and Pepe then belatedly sealed the points for a side whose main creative spark was Arsenal target Gokhan Inler in midfield.

Spurs looked like a side short on confidence and were left to rue a Darren Bent header which he sent too close to home keeper Samir Handanovic, who then did well to stop an Aaron Lennon drive before saving once more from Bent.

How long ago it must feel for Ramos that he twice took Seville to the trophy in 2006 and 2007.

His old side were later in action at home to Germany's VfB Stuttgart.

As Ramos again tasted defeat the man he replaced at White Hart Lane, Martin Jol, emerged triumphant as his new side Hamburg, top of the Bundesliga, won 2-1 at Slovakian side MSK Zilina.

Mladen Petric, back after a virus, scored the opener on 15 minutes and his fellow Croatian international Ivica Olic bagged a second just before the break before Emil Rilke netted a consolation.

In the same group, Aston Villa were hosting Dutch giants Ajax in a meeting of former European champions.

Schalke 04 gave further cheer to German fans as they beat Paris Saint Germain 3-1 in Group A.

Kevin Kuranyi, discarded by Germany coach Joachim Loew for walking out on the squad following their World Cup qualifier against Russia, was smiling again as he scored one and made one.

Schalke, who won the tournament at Inter Milan's expense in 1997 for the only time, went ahead on 13 minutes after Larrys Mabiala put through his own net and Kuranyi then smashed home six minutes before the break.

Schalke ended the contest with Turkish international Halil Altintop's third on 69 minutes before Clement Chantome notched a consolation.

Also off to a flier were Russia's CSKA Moscow, who swamped Group H rivals Deportivo La Coruna 3-0 with Alan Dzagoev netting twice inside three first half minutes before Brazilian Vagner Love made the win safe with the third on the hour.

Later games included Portsmouth, who were away to Portugal's Sporting Braga, and David Beckham's future side AC Milan, who were were visiting Dutch outfit Heerenveen in the same group.

Turkey's Galatasaray were hosting Olympiakos as Hertha Berlin met Portugal's Benfica as Dutch outfit FC Twente, coached by former England boss Steve McClaren, took on Spain's Racing Santander in Schalke's group.