It was contrasting fortunes for English teams in the Europa League on Thursday.
On the day Tottenham romped to an impressive 3-0 win over the Italian giants, Inter Milan, at White Hart Lane, Chelsea lost away by lone goal to Steaua Bucuresti while Newcastle drew goalless with Anzhi Makhachkala.
Gareth Bale nodded home Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross to put Spurs ahead after just five minutes and he set up Jan Vertonghen for the hosts’ third after Sigurdsson himself had scored the second.
Rafael Benitez’s Chelsea suffered a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to Steaua Bucuresti at the National Arena in Romania.
In the first of two games in four days, and the Blues’ 50th match of a turbulent season, last season’s Champions League winners went behind after 34 minutes when Ryan Bertrand was penalised for pulling back Raul Rusescu, who converted the spot-kick.
Nigeria international, Ogenyi Onazi, scored a goal as he inspired Lazio to 2-0 away win over Stuttgart.
Results
UEFA Europa League
Anzhi Makhachkala 0-0 Newcastle
Steaua Bucuresti 1-0 Chelsea
VfB Stuttgart 0-2 Lazio
Viktoria Plzen 0-1 Fenerbahce
Benfica 1-0 Bordeaux
FC Basel 2-0 Zenit St Petersburg
Levante 0-0 FK Rubin Kazan
Tottenham 3-0 Internazionale
