Cristiano Ronaldo has scored twice, including with a spectacular overhead kick, as holders Real Madrid swept to a 3-0 win at Juventus to put themselves in a strong position to advance to the last four of the Champions League.
Bayern Munich also have a foot in the door of the semi-finals after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Sevilla in their quarter-final first-leg match.
In Turin, Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 straight Champions League games when he prodded home Isco's cross in the third minute against Juventus.
Juve were hoping to avenge their 4-1 defeat to Real in the Champions League final last season in Cardiff, but were left stunned by a a brilliant overhead kick from Ronaldo to make it two for Real in the 64th.
The Portugal striker then capped a man-of-the-match performance by providing the pass for Brazil defender Marcelo to score a third in the 72nd.
Ronaldo has now scored for a ninth straight game for Real, has 14 in the Champions League this season and been on target in every game in the competition's current campaign.
In an even first half, Real keeper Keylor Navas kept his side in front with quick reflexes to thwart Gonzalo Higuain at close range, while at the other end Toni Kroos had a shot against the bar with Gianluigi Buffon beaten.
Paulo Dybala saw a free kick deflected just wide as Juve went close to levelling, until Ronaldo had even the home fans applauding with his second goal.
The match then slipped away from the Italians when Dybala was dismissed following a second yellow card two minutes later, and Real, seeking a third straight Champions League title, soon added their third.
Sevilla, in the last eight of the European Cup/Champions League for the first time since their only previous appearance in 1958, have a tough task of progressing after defeat to visiting Bayern.
Pablo Sarabia fired the Spanish side ahead in the 32nd minute after missing an earlier opportunity but Bayern levelled when Franck Ribery's cross was deflected into his own goal by Jesus Navas five minutes later.
Bayern, in their seventh consecutive quarter-final and looking to avoid a fifth successive elimination at the hands of a Spanish side, struck the winner in the 68th minute when Ribery found Thiago Alcantara at the far post to head home.
The remaining two first-leg matches on Wednesday see Liverpool play Manchester City in the all-Premier League encounter, while Barcelona greet Roma.
DPA
