Shocks, novelty and a goal for Platini as Europa League takes off

The group stage of the inaugural Europa League got under way on Thursday, with pre-tournament favourites Roma and Hamburg both succumbing to surprise defeats in their opening matches.

Roma, with Claudio Ranieri at the helm for his first European assignment at the club, went down 2-0 at Swiss side Basel in Group E, while German league leaders Hamburg were stunned 3-0 by Rapid Vienna in Group C.

European football’s governing body UEFA is using the tournament to trial the deployment of extra referee assistants behind each goal-line and the officials were an eye-catching if uncontroversial presence in the early games.

The officials are the brain-child of UEFA president Michel Platini, and the Frenchman was doubly assured of a place in the headlines after his namesake – a Brazilian striker called Michel whose nickname is Platini – scored the opening goal in CSKA Sofia’s 1-1 draw against Fulham.

Genoa’s Spanish midfielder Alberto Zapater had the honour of scoring the first ever goal in the tournament’s group stage, and his fourth-minute strike set the current Serie A leaders on the way to a 2-0 victory at home to Slavia Prague in Group B.

Elsewhere, 2004 champions Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw at Lille in Group B after a late equaliser from the French side’s Ivorian forward Gervinho, while Scottish giants Celtic let a 1-0 lead slip in a 2-1 defeat at Hapoel Tel Aviv in Group C.

Portuguese international Liedson netted a hat-trick as Sporting Lisbon won 3-2 at Heerenveen and there were also wins for Anderlecht, Galatasaray and Dinamo Bucharest.

The Europa League is a re-named, streamlined version of the UEFA Cup, with 12 groups of four teams facing off in a round-robin format and the top two from each group qualifying for a place in the knockout phase.

UEFA hope the competition’s new look will endear it to clubs, fans and sponsors alike, but Fulham coach Roy Hodgson made his feelings about the tournament plain by making nine changes to his side for their Group E trip to Sofia.

“The priority is undoubtedly the Premier League,” Hodgson said.

“The Europa League is a bonus – and a very nice bonus – but the Premier League is our bread and butter. No-one would thank us for reaching the Europa League quarter-finals but getting relegated.”

The opening matches in Groups G to L kick off later on Thursday, with Lazio hosting Red Bull Salzburg and Villarreal taking on Levski Sofia in Group G, while Premier League heavyweights Everton face AEK Athens and reigning champions Shakhtar Donetsk travel to Club Brugge.