A good day for the champions

Stylish success
Arsenal FC began the defence of their English Premiership crown on Sunday by outclassing Everton FC to win 4-1 at Goodison Park, with goals from Dennis Bergkamp - on his 500th league appearance - José Antonio Reyes, Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pires.

Unbeaten run
The result ensured Arsène Wenger's side stretched their unbeaten league run to 41 matches since May 2003, and they will equal Nottingham Forest FC's record of 42 top-flight games without defeat as long as Middlesbrough FC do not beat them at Highbury next Sunday.

Winning start
Meanwhile, new Chelsea FC manager José Mourinho had a smooth introduction to English football as Eidur Gudjohnsen's first-half goal proved enough to defeat Manchester United FC 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. On Saturday, the day Michael Owen officially joined Real Madrid CF, his successor at Liverpool FC, Djibril Cissé, scored on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur FC, but Owen's fellow English international Jermain Defoe equalised to earn a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.

Ajax hold on
In the Netherlands, AFC Ajax were 3-2 winners at FC Twente, Tom de Mul, Rafael van der Vaart and Zlatan Ibrahimovic striking to give the visitors a three-goal cushion. Ajax endured a tense finale, however, as Karim Touzani and Blaise N'Kufo brought Twente back into contention.

Emphatic victories
In contrast, Ajax's traditional rivals PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord had resounding victories. A hat-trick from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink inspired PSV to a 5-2 success at RBC Roosendaal on Saturday. In Rotterdam, meanwhile, Dirk Kuijt also scored three times and Romeo Castelen twice as Feyenoord crushed De Graafschap 6-1.

Bremen buoyant
Bundesliga champions Bremen made it two wins from two games, Ivan Klasnic's double strike putting them on course for a 4-0 triumph at FC Hansa Rostock, with Johan Micoud and Petri Pasanen getting the other goals.

Dropped points
FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart both dropped points, with Bayern needing a Roy Makaay equaliser to earn a home draw with Hertha BSC Berlin and ending up with ten men after Andreas Görlitz was sent off. Stuttgart also finished a player short, Cacau - who had put Matthias Sammer's side ahead - being shown the red card after 1. FC Nürnberg's Ivica Banovic had levelled in another 1-1 scoreline.

Penalty equaliser
French title-holders Olympique Lyonnais were unable to match the form of their counterparts in England, the Netherlands and Germany. Lyon required Juninho Pernambucano's 75th-minute spot-kick to salvage a point at home to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.

Maximum points
FC Metz, AS Monaco FC and Olympique de Marseille are the early Ligue 1 pacesetters, all three teams having maximum points from two matches. Metz won 2-1 at AC Ajaccio while Monaco defeated promoted FC Istres by the same scoreline later on Saturday. Marseille took over at the top on goal difference with a 3-0 victory against nine-man Lille OSC on Sunday night.

Surprise leaders
In Belgium, RAA Louviéroise and KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen lead the way after home wins. La Louvière overcame Cercle Brugge KSV 2-1 with second-half goals from Manaseh Ishiaku and Mamar Mamouni to go top on goal difference. Germinal Beerschot were more emphatic victors on Sunday, Brazilian midfielder Marcelo De Souza scoring three of the four goals against KV Oostende with Guinea's Mohamed Camara contributing the other.