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Belgium's Nations League campaign got off to a winning start. In Rome, they beat Italy 2-0. Mika Godts put the visitors ahead before half-time. Dodi Lukebakio sealed it after the break, just as Italy were pushing for an equaliser.
The opening round of the Nations League group gets underway on September 26, when England welcome Spain to Wembley for a 19:45 BST kickoff. Spain arrive as world champions, while England start a six-match section that also includes Croatia and Czechia.
Palace's Europa League adventure began at Selhurst Park, where they dismantled Lech Poznan 4-0 in their opening league-phase fixture. Wide attackers stretched the Polish side from the first whistle, while Palace's forwards made a habit of getting into the box at the right moment, and the back line held firm enough that Lech never managed to string together a meaningful spell of pressure. Three points on the board in round one count for plenty, but what stands out more is that Palace kept their shape and spacing even once the lead had grown, which suggests the performance wasn't just a product of early momentum.
Bournemouth made their Europa League bow in style, taking a 2-1 away victory over Real Sociedad. The English side spent spells without the ball comfortably, struck quickly whenever the home team's structure broke, and held onto their lead when the pressure mounted. Real Sociedad tightened the gaps in midfield, yet they struggled to convert their share of the ball into a leveller. For Bournemouth, the win offers an early indication of how the energy that defines their league campaigns can be carried into European competition.
5-0 was the final score as Juventus opened their Europa League league phase at home to NEC Nijmegen. The result came in the first round of matches, so it counts as a completed opening result rather than anything still to be played. Juventus pulled away by pressing hard around the NEC penalty area, and they kept attacking even after they had taken firm control. NEC spent long spells defending wave after wave and never had enough of the ball to slow the tempo down.
Manchester City cruised past Norwich City 5-0 in the Carabao Cup at the Etihad Stadium, booking their place in the next round with a comfortable night. A cup tie that could have turned messy after heavy rotation instead stayed firmly in City's hands from start to finish. The scoreline tells only part of the story. City had to mesh a reshuffled line-up, keep up the pressure once they took the lead, and stop Norwich from breaking away whenever they won the ball back. The five goals came from sustained control rather than from hurried, reckless attacking, which is why the win looked so convincing.
