Manchester United claimed their first ever win at the San Siro while Real Madrid went down by a goal at Lyon.
In Italy, Wayne Rooney stole the limelight with two headed goals that gave United a 3-2 win over AC Milan, making them favourites to advance to the quarter-finals of Europe's biggest club football tournament.
It had all begun so well for Milan as Ronaldinho's third minutre strike from a David Beckham free-kick took a deflection and nestled into the United net. The Serie A contenders continued to press forward and Klaas Jan-Huntelaar came agonisingly close to doubling his team's lead in the 33rd minute.
It was not to be. And if Milan were lucky in scoring their first, United were even more fortuitous in getting their opener. Paul Scholes tried to smash one in on the volley and missed it by a country mile. The ball struck his shin, spun wickedly to beat Dida, bounced off the inside of the upright and crossed the line. 1-1 in the 35th minute.
AC Milan vs Manchester United Player Ratings
Lyon vs Real Madrid Player Ratings
The Red Devils came out a side transformed in the second half - carving open Milan in midfield time and again. The final ball was missing though until United boss Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Nani with Antonio Valencia in the 63 minute. With his first cross, the winger found Rooney who jumped in between the two centrebacks to loop the ball in the far corner.
He added one more eight minutes later to seal the match and what looked like the tie after Milan's defence tried to spring the offside trap and got caught themselves.
AC Milan kept the tie alive by scoring six minutes from time - a Ronaldinho pass fizzing its way to Clarence Seedorf. The midfielder finished with an audacious back-heel to make it 3-2 and that was how things ended.
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