Real Madrid made it two wins from two in Group D with a clinical dismissal of Ajax at the Bernabeu .
After opening with a laboured 1-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on matchday one, Jose Mourinho's men looked more in the mood tonight and eased to the three points thanks to goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.
The result was perhaps a touch harsh on an Ajax side who matched their hosts for large swathes of the first half, but Madrid's clinical finishing proved the difference.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Kaka and Mesut Ozil combined well in the build-up, and after the ball was swept out to Benzema, the Frenchman delivered a perfect cross for Ronaldo to tuck home.
Four minutes before the interval, Xabi Alonso fired a long ball down field for Ronaldo to tee up Kaka, and the Brazilian showed all of his class as he fired home low into the right corner.
Another Alonso punt downfield did the damage soon after half time.
Four minutes into the second half, Alvaro Arbeloa collected the ball and finding Kaka, who in turn set up Benzema for a cool finish beyond the helpless Kenneth Vermeer.
Elsewhere, Ashley Young spared Manchester United's blushes with a last-minute goal to snatch a draw in the Champions League against Basle at Old Trafford.
Danny Welbeck's two goals in 80 seconds appeared to have put United in control at the break but three second-half goals from the Swiss side saw Sir Alex Ferguson's team staring at a rare home defeat.
Fabian Frei volleyed home first, then provided the cross for Alexander Frei to head past David De Gea.
Alexander Frei then struck what looked set to be a shock winner from the penalty spot but, with time running out, Young's late header snatched a point for United.
Welbeck could have made himself the hero of the night in injury time but glanced his header just wide.
Claudio Ranieri, the new Inter Milan coach, continued to work his magic as the 2010 European champions chalked up their first points in Group B with a 3-2 win at CSKA Moscow.
Ranieri took over the Italian giants last week after Gian Piero Gasperini was dismissed.
Lucio, the Brazilian defender, and Giampaolo Pazzini and Mauro Zarate, the forwards, scored as Inter recorded their fifth win over CSKA in as many Champions League meetings.
Alan Dzagoev, the midfielder, and Vagner Love, the Brazilian forward, were on target for the Russian side.
The result lifted Inter into the group's third place on three points - one place behind Trabzonspor, who drew 1-1 with Lille, the French outfit, later in the night.
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