Liverpool's first leg of their qualifier against Macedonian minnows FK Rabotnicki went off largely without a hitch, as the Reds picked up a comfortable 2-0 win in Skopje. But there are a number of big European sides sweating over their progress in the Europa League, as James Appell reports.
For many footballers across Europe there was no prospect of a relaxing summer holiday this year. With the qualifying rounds of the Europa League beginning on 1 July this year, many clubs were back in training barely a month after last season finished.
And, to make matters worse, some of Europe's big name clubs are at risk of an embarrassingly early exit from the competition.
Chief among them are Turkish giants Galatasaray, who last week were held 2-2 at home to OFK Beograd.
Former Premier League stars Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell featured in the game, but couldn't prevent OFK from scoring two vital away goals. Galatasaray must now make a daunting trip to Belgrade, knowing that the likelihood is only a win will do.
Meanwhile Greek side Olympiacos played poorly in their first leg against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Trailing 1-0 for much of the game, and with former Blackburn striker Matt Derbyshire largely ineffective, Olympiacos did manage to snatch two late goals. But they will also face a tough tie, with Maccabi cheered on by a partisan crowd over in Israel.
Another shock could be on the cards over in Azerbaijan, where minnows FK Qarabag will host Polish side Wisla Krakow holding a 1-0 aggregate lead after the first leg.
Football is on the up in Azerbaijan, with Tony Adams now managing in the country and former Premier League players Deon Burton and Emile Mpenza also plying their trade there.
Victory over Wisla, who finished second in Poland's top flight last season, would represent a huge stride forward for Qarabag. Few teams would want to travel there in the next round either.
And over in Ukraine Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are under threat after going down 2-1 in their first leg away to little-known Spartak Zlatibor Voda of Serbia.
Dnipro are owned by one of Ukraine's largest banks (and have a budget to match), while they currently top the Ukrainian Premier League.
But they host their opponents, who are taking part in European competition for the very first time, knowing only a win will do.
They, like many other big name clubs across Europe, will be praying that a giant-killing won't further ruin an already curtailed summer break.