Defending champion AC Milan came back to beat Deportivo de la Coruna 4-1 on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, and FC Porto topped Lyon 2-0.
Milan, who lead the Serie A and are looking for their seventh Champions Cup title, got two goals from Kaka and one each from Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo. Uruguay international Walter Pandiani scored for Deportivo.
Deco scored one goal and set up another for Ricardo Carvalho for Uefa Cup champion Porto.
In Milan, Pandiani’s away goal gave Deportivo the early edge in the 11th minute, but the hosts exploded for four goals around both sides of half-time.
Kaka netted in first-half injury time to put the Milan powerhouse on equal terms at the break. Shevchenko, who leads the Serie A with 19 goals, added the second in the 46th, and Kaka made it 3-1 in the 49th.
Pirlo then got in on the action, scoring a fourth in the 53rd.
Also, Milan captain Paolo Maldini broke Dutchman Frank de Boer’s record for most appearances in European club play with his 130th match.
In the previous round, Deportivo knocked out 2003 Champions Cup runner-up Juventus as Pandiani scored the lone goal in the second leg in Turin.
In Porto, Deco put the Portuguese league leaders ahead in the 44th minute against French counterpart Lyon, deflecting a powerful volley from teammate Benni McCarthy past Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.
Carvalho headed in the insurance goal in the 71st minute.
The second-leg matches are scheduled for April 7, with the winners facing each other in the semifinals. The final is set for May 26 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
On Wednesday, Chelsea host English rival Arsenal in an all-London quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge, and nine-time champion Real Madrid host Monaco.
Arsenal, who lead Chelsea in the English Premier League and are looking for a treble along with the FA Cup and Champions Cup, have not lost to Chelsea in 16 straight matches.
Madrid, who have been slumping since Ronaldo limped off the field with a muscle tear on March 6, will be bolstered by the Brazilian’s return.
It will also be a return of sorts for Monaco striker Fernando Morientes, who is on loan from Madrid this season. The Spanish international has 17 goals in all competitions for Monaco, including five in the Champions League. — Sapa-AP