MOSCOW (AFP) - Italian giants Inter Milan battled back from a goal down to beat Russian champions CSKA Moscow 2-1 in a Champions League Group G clash here on Tuesday to jump to the top of the table.

Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel scored one apiece for Inter, while Brazilian striker Joao was on target for the Red Army side.

Inter now have six points from three matches, two points ahead of Turkish side Fenerbahce, who play PSV Eindhoven later on Tuesday, while CSKA remain bottom with just one point.

"It was really difficult match," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "CSKA played very well in the first half, while we had certain problems.

"Luckily after the break we managed to increase productivity and changed things for the better."

CSKA, who needed nothing less than a win to stay in the race for a place in the knockout phase, started at a lively pace, pinning Inter back and trying to expose the visitors' defensive frailties, however, Inter held firm until the half hour mark.

But the 32nd minute the CSKA playmaker Daniel Carvalho fed striker Joao on the edge of the penalty box.

The Brazilian marksman beat Inter defender Ivan Cordoba and lobbed the ball into the top right-handed corner over helpless 'keeper Julio Cesar to lift the hosts 1-0 up.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a clear chance to pull the scores level with five minutes remaining before the break but CSKA goalkeeper Veniamin Mandrykin managed to deflect the Inter forward's dangerous close-range header for a corner.

But six minutes after the interval Crespo levelled at 1-1 firing in from close range with an unopposed shot after a mixup in the CSKA defence.

The visitors, fresh from their success, poured forward in attack seeking the winning goal and created a host of chances but missed them all until the 80th minute.

Samuel netted the visitors winning goal beating Mandrykin with an eight-metre header from a well-served freekick by Luis Figo, who was playing his 100th Champions League match.

"Today we lost to a team which was just stronger," CSKA manager Valery Gazzayev said. "We played well in the opening half but unexpected injuries forced us to make substitutions, which weakened our play.

"Of course I'm upset with the result and obvious lack of luck but I should aknowledge that Inter deservedly won as they were stronger today."

On a sour note for Inter, France midfielder Patrick Vieira lasted only 17 minutes in his second appearance of the season before coming off with a calf injury.