AC Milan, Marseille, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have all taken huge steps in seeking to secure passage to the last 16 of the Europa League.
The Rossoneri claimed a comprehensive 3-0 win at Ludogorets Razgrad in their last-32 first leg as Patrick Cutrone, Ricardo Rodriguez and Fabio Borini struck in Bulgaria.
Marseille won by the same scoreline against Braga as a Valere Germain brace and a Florian Thauvin strike saw Rudi Garcia's side claim a healthy first-leg advantage at the Orange Velodrome.
Arsenal also won 3-0 in their game against Ostersunds FK at the Jamtkraft Arena, while Atletico came from behind to cement a 4-1 first-leg lead away at Copenhagen.
Sporting Lisbon will go into their second-leg clash against Astana boasting a 3-1 lead from their match in Kazakhstan, while a Michy Batshuayi brace helped Borussia Dortmund to a late 3-2 win over Atalanta BC.
In the other Europa League early kickoffs, Nice were beaten 3-2 at home against Lokomotiv Moscow and Athletic Bilbao won 3-1 at Spartak Moscow.
Real Sociedad were held to a 2-2 draw by Red Bull Salzburg at the Anoeta, with Takumi Minamino scoring a late equaliser for the Austrians.
AEK Athens drew 1-1 at home to Dynamo Kiev and Partizan also recorded the same scoreline in their first-leg meeting with Viktoria Plzen.
Celtic will take a 1-0 lead in their second-leg encounter away at Zenit St Petersburg after Callum McGregor's late strike gave the Hoops victory at Parkhead.
Lyon beat Villarreal 3-1 in France, while a much-changed Napoli side was beaten by the same scoreline at the hands of RB Leipzig at Stadio San Paolo.
Fellow Serie A giants Lazio were also defeated in their first-leg encounter as Steaua Bucuresti emerged 1-0 victors at the National Arena.
Results in full: Astana 1-3 Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Atalanta BC, Ludogorets Razgrad 0-3 AC Milan, Marseille 3-0 Braga, Nice 2-3 Lokomotiv Moscow, Ostersunds FK 0-3 Arsenal, Spartak Moscow 1-3 Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad 2-2 Red Bull Salzburg, AEK Athens 1-1 Dynamo Kiev, Celtic 1-0 Zenit St Petersburg, Copenhagen 1-4 Atletico Madrid, Lyon 3-1 Villarreal, Napoli 1-3 RB Leipzig, Partizan 1-1 Viktoria Plzen, Steaua Bucuresti 1-0 Lazio
Giuseppe Labellarte
