PARIS, Sept 18: Spain showed their reputation as the best in Europe is fully deserved as two of their representatives shot out of the Champions League blocks Tuesday.

Real Madrid had far too many attacking weapons for AS Roma, whipping the Italians 3-0 in Rome with Guti twice on target and Raul poaching his 35th goal in the competition — a tournament record.

The nine-time champions of Europe began last season’s successful campaign with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico and they were even more irrepressible this time despite conceding the lion’s share of the possession in their first Group C match.

And with new signing Ronaldo not even in the team as yet Vicente Del Bosque’s side should have plenty more aces up their sleeve.

Real Madrid might be champions of Europe — but they couldn’t win their own league title last season.

That honour went to Valencia, and they handed Liverpool a lesson at the Mestalla stadium, scoring a convincing 2-0 win over the four-time continental kings in Group B.

Valencia have not lost in front of their home fans by an English team since 1967 and two seasons ago, on their way to the final, they dumped out both Arsenal and Leeds United.

Argentine Pablo Aimar shrugged off his recent fitness doubts, although he limped off midway through the second half, by finding the net after 20 minutes after a defence-splitting pass from Ruben Baraja.

Baraja put himself on the scoresheet seven minutes before the break with a curling right foot shot from just outside the area past Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool goal.

The visitors saw their evening end on an even more miserable note when German midfielder Dietmar Hamann was sent off for a second bookable offence after clashing with Mista Ferrer.

In the same group, Celtic’s Swiss conquerors Basel beat Spartak Moscow 2-0, taking the Russians’ winless streak in the competition to 12, a drought only previously matched by Rangers between 1993 and 1996.

There was some cheer for English sides as Premiership champions Arsenal handed German champions Borussia Dortmund a 2-0 beating at Highbury.

Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp put the Gunners ahead just after the hour mark and Arsene Wenger’s men killed off the Group A match with a superb move on 77 minutes finished off by Freddie Ljungberg in his comeback from injury.

Group rivals Auxerre of France and Dutch former champions PSV Eindhoven drew 0-0 in France.

In Group D, Hernan Crespo bagged a double for Inter Milan — the second a late equaliser — to rescue a point in Norway against Rosenborg, for whom Azar Karadas, a handful for the Inter defence all evening, was twice on target after Crespo’s opener.

The Argentine sharpshooter’s exploits went some way to consoling the travelling Inter fans for the loss of Ronaldo to Real Madrid — though few would bet against Ronaldo going somewhat further in the competition on Tuesday’s evidence.

In Amsterdam, Ajax thanked a double from Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a 2-1 win over French champions Lyon which should have been less of a close call.

Sonny Anderson netted a late acrobatic effort for the French and also hit the post in a flowing game, the first ever between the two clubs.

Tuesday’s collated Champions League results: