Many analysts think the Russian invasion of Georgia last month will make it more difficult for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO or even gain a membership action plan when NATO foreign ministers meet again in December.
It was a mixed night for German sides as VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg both opened with victories, but Hamburger SV could only draw with AFC Unirea Urziceni while BV Borussia Dortmund lost against Udinese Calcio.
France's three UEFA Champions League entrants may have picked up only a point between them but Ligue 1's UEFA Cup hopefuls AS Saint-Etienne, AS Nancy-Lorrane, Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Rennais FC all won.
Portsmouth FC won their first match in UEFA club competition to lead a successful night for England's five UEFA Cup representatives as all but Everton FC were victorious in the opening leg of their first-round ties.
Italy enjoyed a clean sweep as all four sides recorded victories: AC Milan beating FC Zürich, SSC Napoli holding off SL Benfica and UC Sampdoria and Udinese Calcio both nearing the group stage following comfortable wins.
