Another set-piece, another free header and another Atletico goal. Simple stuff from the champions. Gabi's curling free-kick picks out the forehead of Mario Mandzukic and that is bread and butter for the Croatian. That's his first La Liga goal since arriving from Bayern Munich to replace Chelsea-bound Diego Costa.

Italian Serie A

Brillante by name but not by nature - on tonight's evidence at least. Young Australia midfielder Josh Brilliante is hooked by Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella, a Roma hero from his playing days remember, as he bids to find a way back into this match. Josip Ilicic is the man to enter the action in a purely tactical switch.

Italian Serie A

Image source, Getty Images

What are most 37-year-olds doing on Saturday night? Maybe a few beers down the pub. A romantic meal with the other half perhaps. Not leading one of Italy's best sides on the football field and running rings around the opposition. That's what Francesco Totti is doing. He's running the show at the moment as Roma press for a second.

It has been coming - and now Roma grab the lead that they deserve. Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan starts the move, striding forward from deep before slipping in a perfect pass to colleague Gervinho. The Ivorian's low shot is blocked by Fiorentina keeper Murara Neto but the ball falls straight to Nainggolan who pirouettes to slam in a half volley.

Image source, Reuters

The champions are off and running at home this season and it is Brazilian defender Miranda who gets their opener. He ghosts in at the near post to connect with Koke's out-swinging corner - without an Eibar shirt in touching distance - and heads in off the underside of the crossbar. Easy as they come.

Italian Serie A

Pjanic and Totti link up again, causing havoc on the edge of the Fiorentina box, and the Roma skipper is hacked to the ground. Young Argentine Juan Iturbe - Roma's latest big hope - is trusted with the free-kick but overcooks his effort as it flies over the away net.

Italian Serie A

Another possible opening for Roma. The Giallorossi win a free-kick on the corner of the Fiorentina box, with Miralem Pjanic - who impressed for Bosnia during the World Cup if you cast your minds back - standing over it. His clever set-piece picks out skipper Francesco Totti, who peels off out of the hustle and bustle of the six-yard box, only to slip as he goes to volley goalwards.

With Ashley Cole making his Roma debut tonight, we want to know who you think has been Britain's finest (footballing) export.

Le Goon:, external The Beatles

Kelvin:, external James Bond and the Queen

Not quite what we were after folks....

Italian Serie A

Image source, AFP

Plenty for Roma's army of fans to cheer in the opening 15 minutes. Their side have made a confident start, attacking with a swagger that is leaving Fiorentina scrabbling back to defend. Gervinho is a little too cocksure though, trying a fancy backheel in the away box when a simpler pass could have created a goalscoring chance.

Spanish La Liga

A few hundred miles across the warm waters of the Med, it is game on between Atletico Madrid and Eibar. The champions are looking for their first win of the fledgling season after a drab 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano in their opener.

Italian Serie A

Plenty of early touches in the bag for Ashley Cole. Not that a man who has won over 100 England caps and has more silverware than a cutlery factory needs a confidence booster. Roma starting to pen back Fiorentina but are still to test away keeper Murara Neto.

Italian Serie A

Francesco Totti and Daniel De Rossi seem to have been iconic figures in the Italian capital for longer than the Pope. The Roma veterans have been around for ever. They link up from a free-kick in a promising position, only for De Rossi to hopelessly miss the target from distance.

Spanish La Liga

Atletico have lost three of their previous five La Liga debut matches against Basque sides at home, winning the other two.

On the topic of British exports, we want to hear your thoughts about those players who have dug out their passports and moved abroad. Who has been the most successful and why? Tell us using #bbceurofooty on Twitter or by texting 81111.

Ashley Cole's new career in Italy is officially under way. The visitors make a lightning start, breaking down the left and whipping in a cross to the far stick where - yep you've guessed it - Cole is underneath to nod back to his keeper Morgan De Sanctis.

As well as the main course of Roma v Fiorentina, we also have a healthy side portion of Spanish football for your insatiable appetite. In about 15 minutes, La Liga champions Atletico Madrid play their first home league game of the new season when they host Eibar.

'Who?' I hear you cry. Eibar. They are the tiny Basque club, with a ground capacity of just over 5,000, who are embarking on their first adventure in the Spanish top flight. Find out more in BBC Sport's report from their opening win against Real Sociedad.

Atletico Madrid starting XI: Moya, Juanfran, Siqueira, Suarez, Miranda, Godín, Koke, Gabi, Mandzukic, Raul Garcia, Griezmann

Eibar starting XI: Aranzamendi, Boveda, Minero Fernandez, Errasti, Albentosa, Rodriguez Navas, Capa, Garcia Carrillo, Rodriguez Diaz, Arruabarrena, Lara Grande

While joking about Dichio and Bothroyd's less memorable spells in Serie A, it was not intended to deride either player. Because at least they had the bottle to try their luck away from their comfort zone of British football.

But why don't more players pack up and head to a different culture? Football writer Amy Lawrence says they should in this piece on the BBC Sport website.

"English players broadening their horizons can only be a good thing," she writes. "The sooner it can happen to players, before they reach veteran status, the better."

Roma starting XI: De Sanctis, Torosidis, Manolas, Astori, Cole, Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanic, Iturbe, Totti, Gervinho.

Fiorentina starting XI: Murara Neto, Tomovic, Alonso, Pizarro, Rodriguez, Savic, Brillante, Valero Iglesias, Gomez, Babacar, Vargas.

Ciao! As expected, Ashley Cole starts for Roma as last season's runners-up kick off their Serie A season. Nobody expected the Giallorossi to mount a title challenge last term and although they faded after a blistering start, they comfortably held on to second place. Can they push Juventus even further this time?

"I want to contribute to a team that will win the league," says Cole. He thinks they can.