Spurs, City in scoring frenzy

Just when some of Europe’s top teams risked failing to advance from their Champions League groups, they steadied the ship.

Real Madrid and Tottenham both earned their first European wins of the season against overmatched opponents — but in very different style.

Real had to work hard to win 1-0 against a Galatasaray team with their own problems, while last season’s finalist Tottenham swept aside Red Star Belgrade 5-0.

That emphatic win was sorely needed for Tottenham, who had won just two of their last 11 games and conceded seven against Bayern Munich in their last Champions League outing. But Tottenham aren’t out of the woods yet.

‘‘We still know we’ve got a long way to go,’’ striker Harry Kane said. ‘‘We can hopefully build on this.’’

Juventus came within 13 minutes of a loss which could have endangered their hopes of reaching the knockout stage before Paulo Dybala scored twice to beat Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are all firmly on course to advance after recording their third wins to top their groups.

Things are going far from smoothly for English clubs this season in the Champions League — except for Manchester City.

The Premier League champions are cruising in first place in Group C after earning their third win in emphatic style with a 5-1 demolition of Atalanta. The other three English clubs in the Champions League — Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool — have all taken losses so far.

Ruslan Malinovskyi gave Atalanta the lead from the penalty spot, but that lasted just six minutes before Sergio Aguero levelled with the first of his two goals. Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick inside 11 minutes in the second half.