Ajax have kicked off their Europa League campaign with a convincing 4-0 home win against Turkish side Beşiktaş. Man of the match was 19-year-old Mika Godts who scored twice for the home side. Kian Fitz-Jim and Kenneth Taylor were also on target.

On Wednesday, AZ Alkmaar beat Elfsborg 3-2 and Twente scored a surprise away draw against Manchester United.

The Europa and Champions Leagues have new formats this year. In the new setup, there are no groups and all 36 teams play eight matches, four at home and four away. Their opponents are picked by computer.

The results are then compiled into a ranking and the best eight will go forward automatically to the round of 16. The teams ranked 9 to 24 will then play each other to determine the other eight. The losers will then be out of the competition and will not move down to the lower competition as in previous years.

Women’s Champions League

Meanwhile, FC Twente’s women’s team has reached this year’s Champions League group phase with a 4-0 home win over Croatian side ZNK Osijek. The Dutch side won the first leg 4-1 away.

Twente are the only Dutch representatives in the premier European competition for women. Ajax, who reached the quarter-finals last year, were eliminated in the first preliminary round.

The draw for the group phase takes place on Friday.