KATHMANDU: Nottingham Forest made a flying start under new head coach Vítor Pereira, hammering Fenerbahçe 3–0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie on Thursday night.

Forest, now under their fourth manager of the season, recently handed Pereira an 18-month contract, and the Portuguese coach could hardly have asked for a better start.

Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed a commanding victory and put the Premier League side firmly in control of the tie.

Meanwhile, it was a difficult milestone night for Martin O’Neill, as his Celtic side were thrashed 4–1 by VfB Stuttgart in his landmark match in charge of the Scottish champions.

Elsewhere in the Europa League play-offs:

• Red Star Belgrade edged past Lille 1–0

• Bologna claimed a 1–0 win over Brann

• Genk defeated Dinamo Zagreb 3–1

• Ludogorets Razgrad beat Ferencváros 2–1

• Celta Vigo overcame PAOK 2–1

• Viktoria Plzeň drew 2–2 with Panathinaikos

With the first legs completed, all eyes now turn to the return fixtures as teams battle for a coveted place in the group stage of the Europa League.