London, August 23 :

AC Milan and Liverpool entered the lucrative group stage of the European Champions League on Tuesday, Milan beating Red Star Belgrade 2-1 and Liverpool drawing 1-1 with Maccabi Haifa. Benfica also made it after a 3-0 victory over Austria Vienna. SV Hamburg, reached the group stage when a 1-1 draw at Spain’s Osasuna sent the Bundesliga club through on away goals. Valencia beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 to advance 3-1.

Filippo Inzaghi scored on a header in the 28th minute for Milan and they doubled their lead in the 78th on a close-range shot by Clarence Seedorf. That gave Milan a 3-0 aggregate lead, but a minute later, Dusan Djokic’s reduced Milan’s advantage.

With Maccabi trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Liverpool increased its overall lead in the 54th when Peter Crouch headed home off Jermaine Pennant’s cross. But Maccabi replied nine minutes later through Roberto Colautti.