English Premier League sides Newcastle and Tottenham came through tricky away ties with narrow victories in Thursday's UEFA Cup first round first leg ties.
But there was disappointment for West Ham, who lost 1-0 at home to Palermo, and Blackburn who gave away a late goal to draw at Salzburg.
Holders Sevilla struggled to a 2-1 victory at Greeks Atromitos and French league leaders Marseille edged out Slovaks Mlada Boleslav 1-0 but it was a dismal night for their bitter rivals Paris St Germain who were held to a goalless draw at minnows Derry City.
Four-time European Cup winners Ajax quickly overcame the disappointment of losing in the Champions League final qualifying round to Denmark's FC Copenhagen with a 5-2 demolition of IK Start.
There were seven goals as well in Greece where Dinamo Bucharest won a 4-3 thriller against FC Xanthi.
Despite fielding Argentine World Cup stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from the start for the first time, West Ham could not find a way through against their Sicilian opponents.
Andrea Caracciolo scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time as West Ham made an inglorious return to Europe after seven years away.
But Hammers manager Alan Pardew refused to blame his players for defeat.
"I thought we didn't get the breaks," he said. "I was particularly disappointed with the refereeing in that first 20 minutes. I thought the referee would be stronger."
And he reserved a little praise for his new South American duo.
"In terms of performance I thought Mascherano's passing raised us a level. After half-time when he had the bit between his teeth he raised the tempo for us and gave an accomplished display," Pardew said. "Tevez you can see is a special talent; we just need to harness it. Certainly I don't think either of them have any problems adapting on a physical front."
Debut goal
Newcastle kept their steady European progress, which began in the Inter Toto Cup, going as they edged out Estonians Levadia Tallinn 1-0 thanks to a goal from debutant Antoine Sibierski.
The Frenchman was only signed on transfer deadline day but has already started to repay manger Glenn Roeder as he headed in Damien Duff's free-kick on 10 minutes.
Newcastle should have taken a larger winning margin back to St James Park but were wasteful in front of goal with Nigeria international forward Obafemi Martins miscuing with the goal at his mercy.
Tallinn were not without there chances, though, and had taken a 30-match unbeaten run into the game.
Vladimir Voskoboinikov was denied by Shay Given in the second half before Konstantin Vassiljev skied the rebound over the bar.
Tottenham came away from Slavia Prague with an impressive 1-0 victory thanks to Jermaine Jenas' fierce right-foot strike after great work from Ivory Coast international Didier Zokora.
The north Londoners were largely in control in their first European match for seven years and now look in prime position to reach the group stages.
`Little and large'
The 1972 and 1984 UEFA Cup winners caused Slavia problems through their `little and large' strikeforce of Jermain Defoe and Mido while at the other end England goalkeeper Paul Robinson had little to do until midway through the second period when he made a smart double save.
He pushed away a Dusan Svento free-kick and was then up quickly to block Stanislav Vlcek's effort from the rebound.
Blackburn went behind at Salzburg to a goal from former Germany international Andreas Zickler on 30 minutes.
But within nine minutes they were in front after Robbie Savage scored an equalizer and South Africa international striker, and former Champions League winner with Porto, Benni McCarthy also found the net.
But a last minute goal from substitute Marc Janko salvaged a draw for the Austrians.
Ajax, who won this competition back in 1992, were being pegged at 2-2 on the hour mark in Norway before striding clear with three unanswered goals.
Young Netherlands international striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a brace while there were also scores from Markus Rosenberg, Wesley Sneijder and Garcia Roger.
Sevilla took a 2-0 half-time lead through Kepa Blanco-Gonzalez and Duda but Atromitos hit back after the break through Giorgos Korakakis to set up a nervy finale.
Former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade crashed 2-0 at Slovan Liberec while Eintracht Frankfurt beat Brondby 3-0.
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