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Brighton and Hove Albion and Atalanta opened their 2026/27 UEFA Conference League campaigns with convincing victories on Thursday, while Hajduk Split claimed one of the round’s biggest results by defeating Ajax 2-1 in Croatia.
Brighton thrashed Kauno Žalgiris 4-0, Atalanta beat Pafos 3-1, and Hajduk Split recovered from conceding an equaliser to secure victory over the Dutch giants. Blueprint reports
Trabzonspor also impressed with a 4-2 away win over KuPS Kuopio, while Copenhagen defeated Braga 3-0 and Freiburg edged Jablonec 3-2 as the league phase began.
Brighton, Atalanta record convincing victories
Brighton produced one of the night’s most commanding performances, defeating Kauno Žalgiris 4-0 at home.
Georginio Rutter scored twice, with Ibrahim Osman assisting both goals. Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley also found the net as Brighton took control of the encounter.
Hinshelwood headed in the second goal after Rutter had opened the scoring, while O’Riley completed the rout with a header from a cross by debutant Younes Ibrahim.
The victory gave Brighton a strong start to their European campaign ahead of their trip to Jablonec on October 22.
Atalanta also began positively, beating Pafos 3-1 in Italy. Eljif Elmas opened the scoring inside the first minute before converting a penalty to double the hosts’ advantage. Gianluca Scamacca added a third before half-time.
Pafos reduced the deficit late in the match through Biel, but Atalanta held on to collect all three points.
The Italian side will face Ajax in Amsterdam in their next fixture.
Hajduk Split hand Ajax early setback
Hajduk Split secured a notable 2-1 victory over Ajax, giving the Croatian club a memorable return to a UEFA competition league phase.
Abdoulie Sanyang put Hajduk ahead in the first half after being set up by Marin Šotiček. Ajax responded after the break through Davy Klaassen, who levelled the score with a powerful effort.
However, Šotiček restored Hajduk’s lead after capitalising on an opportunity created by Michele Šego. Ajax pushed for another equaliser, with substitute Oscar Gloukh hitting the crossbar, but the hosts held on.
The result leaves Ajax needing a response when they host Atalanta on October 22, while Hajduk will travel to face Thun.
Trabzonspor, Copenhagen and Freiburg also win
Trabzonspor recorded a high-scoring 4-2 away victory over KuPS Kuopio. Djú Franculino scored twice as the Turkish side made the most of their attacking opportunities, despite conceding two goals.
Copenhagen defeated Braga 3-0, while Freiburg edged Jablonec 3-2 in a closely contested encounter. Monaco also claimed an away victory, beating CSKA Sofia 2-1, with Paris Brunner scoring and assisting Ansu Fati.
Elsewhere, Lugano defeated Crvena Zvezda 3-2, Panathinaikos beat Borac Banja Luka 2-1, and Mjällby overcame Inter Escaldes 2-0.
Gent recorded a 1-0 victory over Aarhus, while Twente edged Thun by the same scoreline. Sint-Truidense beat Iberia Tbilisi 2-0, and Brann defeated Lincoln Red Imps 2-1.
Three matches ended 1-1: Egnatia against Midtjylland, Riga against Kairat Almaty, and Universitatea Craiova against Getafe. Hearts and Nordsjælland also shared the points after a 1-1 draw.
Lugano 3-2 Crvena Zvezda
Hajduk Split 2-1 Ajax
Gent 1-0 Aarhus
Egnatia 1-1 Midtjylland
KuPS Kuopio 2-4 Trabzonspor
Mjällby 2-0 Inter Escaldes
Panathinaikos 2-1 Borac Banja Luka
CSKA Sofia 1-2 Monaco
Riga 1-1 Kairat Almaty
Universitatea Craiova 1-1 Getafe
Atalanta 3-1 Pafos
Brighton 4-0 Kauno Žalgiris
Copenhagen 3-0 Braga
Twente 1-0 Thun
Hearts 1-1 Nordsjælland
Sint-Truidense 2-0 Iberia Tbilisi
Freiburg 3-2 Jablonec
Brann 2-1 Lincoln Red Imps
Second round begins October 22
The competition resumes on Thursday, October 22, with Ajax facing Atalanta and Jablonec hosting Brighton among the fixtures to watch.
Other matches include Monaco against Freiburg, Braga against Gent, Trabzonspor against Hearts, and Hajduk Split against Thun. Copenhagen will face Crvena Zvezda, while Getafe take on Lugano.
The second round will give clubs an early opportunity to strengthen their positions in the league phase. For Brighton and Atalanta, the objective will be to maintain their winning starts, while Ajax will be looking to recover from their opening defeat.
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