The Reds clinched a 1-0 win on the road at AFC Ajax, with Nicolas Tagliafico’s first-half own goal ultimately the difference between the teams at Johan Cruyff Arena.
In Herning, meanwhile, Serie A side Atalanta showed their intent in the tournament with a 4-0 win against Danish champions FC Midtjylland.
Duvan Zapata, Alejandro Gomez and Luis Muriel were on the scoresheet for Atalanta during the first half and substitute Aleksei Miranchuk added a fourth a minute from the end.
Those strikes were enough to see Gian Piero Gasperini’s charges take top spot in the fledgling Group D table, ahead of the Reds on goal difference.