Yesterday, Juventus got their Europa League campaign underway with a 5-0 demolition of NEC Nijmegen, while Bournemouth enjoyed a fine win at Real Sociedad on their European debut.
Crystal Palace thrashed Lech Poznan 4-0, while Celtic suffered another European humiliation when the Scottish champions lost 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros, AFP reported.
Juventus are expected to be among Europe’s finest competing in the Champions League but the failure to qualify last season at least has given them the chance to end a 30-year wait for a European trophy.
The Italian giants were far too powerful for their Dutch guests in Turin. Nico Gonzalez, Kerim Alajbegovic and Nick Woltemade, with his first goal since signing on loan from Newcastle, made it 3-0 before the break.
Zeki Celik and Randal Kolo Muani added to the score after the break. Juventus made a better start than rivals AC Milan, who fell 2-0 to Benfica in the pick of Wednesday’s Europa League action.
Bournemouth got off to a wonderful start to their first ever European journey with a 2-1 triumph in San Sebastian.
Justin Kluivert got the scoring underway early on and Rayan headed in at the back post to give the Cherries a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes.
Marco Rose’s side have had the tendency to throw away leads in the opening weeks of the season.
Bournemouth have been up in all four meetings this season but Rose has yet to win in the Premier League.
A ball from Sergio Gomez was deflected into the far corner to bring Sociedad back into the tie but this time Bournemouth held on for a remarkable win.
Palace, who won the Conference League last season, were much too strong for Lech Poznan as they made it eight wins from eight for the English sides in Champions and Europa League play so far this season.
Yeremy Pino took advantage of a disastrous Poznan throw-in to open the scoring at Selhurst Park.
Chris Richards grabbed a second before Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty made it 3-0, and Eddie Nketiah finished the scoring.
Celtic’s defensive frailties were again on display just weeks after they crashed out of the Champions League qualifications against Austrian side LASK despite at one stage possessing a four-goal lead.
O’Neill’s team were also handed a chastening 3-0 defeat by local rivals Rangers last weekend and failed to deliver on their manager’s commitment to respond.
The visitors went ahead through a Liam Scales own goal and Kristoffer Zachariassen before Daniel Arzani’s spectacular score on his return to Celtic Park rounded up a fine nite for Ferencvaros.
Besiktas inflicted Marseille’s fourth successive defeat with a 4-1 win in Istanbul.
Ilhan Fakili had put the Turkish team ahead but Keyliane Abdallah levelled and Vaclav Cerny, Micahel Amir Murillo and Ernest Poku all added second-half goals.
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