In England the football Premiership got underway and Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea sent a message to the rest with a highly impressive 4-0 victory over Portsmouth overnight.
In reply the champions Manchester United could only draw 1-1 at home to Newcastle today.
Scolari's debut as Chelsea manager was also striking for the style of the victory. Chelsea's multi-billionaire owner, the Russian Roman Abramovich, would have been pleased to see an open, expressive Chelsea performance.
Elsewhere Manchester City were thrashed 4-2 at Aston Villa, Liverpool won 1-nil at Sunderland, new boys Hull City beat Fulham and there were also wins for Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Middlesbrough, West Ham and Arsenal.
