Dutch Teams Shine in European Football Competitions

Ajax has commenced their Europa League journey with an emphatic 4-0 victory at home against Turkish club Beşiktaş. The standout performer was 19-year-old Mika Godts, who netted two goals for the Dutch side. Other scorers included Kian Fitz-Jim and Kenneth Taylor, securing a dominant start to Ajax’s campaign.

In other Europa League action, AZ Alkmaar managed a 3-2 victory over Swedish side Elfsborg, while FC Twente achieved an unexpected away draw against Premier League giants Manchester United.

This season, both the Europa and Champions Leagues are featuring new formats. The modified structure involves all 36 teams playing eight matches—four at home and four away—against opponents selected via computer. Subsequently, teams are ranked by their results, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16. Teams placed from ninth to 24th will compete in additional play-offs to secure the remaining spots, altering the previous system that allowed teams to drop into lower competitions.

Continuing with Dutch representation in European competitions, FC Twente’s women’s team has secured a place in the Champions League group phase. They achieved this with a decisive 4-0 victory against Croatian team ZNK Osijek, following a 4-1 triumph in the away leg. Notably, FC Twente stands as the sole Dutch team in the women’s premier European tournament this season. Ajax, who reached the quarter-finals last year, faced elimination in the first preliminary round this time.

The draw for the Champions League group phase is scheduled to take place on Friday, determining the next steps for the competing teams.