Milan all but booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a swashbuckling performance to thump hapless Arsenal 4-0 at the San Siro last night.
A Kevin-Prince Boateng blockbuster, a Robinho brace and a penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the Italians their first win in seven Champions League clashes against English opposition while also ending a run of three straight home defeats against Premier League teams.
It means the second round, second leg at the Emirates in three weeks time should be little more than a formality for Massimiliano Allegri’s players.
Not even the introduction of Thierry Henry in his final appearance before returning to New York Red Bulls could inspire an out of sorts Gunners formation.
Earlier, Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg came from a goal down to beat Portuguese giants Benfica 3-2.
At the San Siro, any suggestions that Milan might have had an inferiority complex following their terrible run against the English were shattered in a first half in which the hosts were composed and clinical on the counter while the visitors were unsettled and error-prone.
A lovely move from Milan saw Luca Antonini chip the ball to Ibrahimovic who teed up Urby Emanuelson but the Dutch midfielder couldn’t match the neat build-up play with a comparable finish.
The hosts went ahead on the quarter hour mark when Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny scuffed a clearance straight to Antonio Nocerino who fed Boateng to crash a volley in off the underside of the bar.
Nocerino thrashed a volley over with Ibrahimovic screaming for a pass while the largely anonymous Robin Van Persie’s free-kick was headed tamely by Laurent Koscielny into goalkeeper Christian Abbiati’s arms.
Another Arsenal mistake saw Ibrahimovic, who was in tigerish form all night, sent scampering down the left on 38 minutes and he had time to pick out Robinho to head in from eight yards.
And it could have been worse at the break for the English side as Boateng shot into the side netting and Antonini poked wide having beaten Szczesny to the ball.
Arsene Wenger introduced Henry at half-time but any thoughts that might inspire the Londoners were dispelled within four minutes as more timid defending gave Robinho the time and space to shoot home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Arsenal finally put together a move of stunning quality on 65 minutes with Henry flicking the ball up for Van Persie to volley goalwards but Abbiati’s save matched what had come before it.
And yet 11 minutes from time Ibrahimovic hammered the final nail into Arsenal’s coffin as he used his wealth of experience to win a penalty in contact with Johan Djourou before putting away the spot-kick himself.
Abbiati would twice more deny Van Persie whose volley with his weaker right foot and header were both kept out.
Shirokov double
In St Petersburg, Zenit midfielder Roman Shirokov netted a double - taking his tally to five in this season’s competition - while substitute Sergei Semak got the hosts other goal.
Benfica’s goals came from defender Maxi Pereira and Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo, both after errors by goalkeeper Yury Zhevnov.
“It was a nervous match,” Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti said.
“My players showed really good skill. They showed a lot of heart to win the match in such a grave situation. However they did exactly what we decided to do ahead of the match. We won deservedly tonight.”
The visitors manager Jorge Jesus meanwhile said he was upset with the result but was expecting an even tougher battle in the second leg.
“It was really tough to play here,” he said. “We allowed Zenit to score three goals, that means we defended poorly this evening. It’s a pity.
“But nothing is finished yet. The place in the next round will be decided in the return match. I think it will be even more tough.”
Last 16, 1st legs
Played yesterday
Zenit SP 3
Shirokov 27, 88; Semak 71;
Benfica 2
Pereira 20; Cardozo 87;
Milan 4
Boateng 15; Robinho 38, 49; Ibrahimovic 78p;
Arsenal 0
Second leg: March 6
Played on Tuesday
B. Leverkusen vs Barcelona - 1-3
Lyon vs Apoel Nicosia - 1-0
Tuesday, February 21
CSKA vs Real Madrid - 18.00
Napoli vs Chelsea - 20.45
Wednesday, February 22
Marseille vs Inter - 20.45
Basel vs Bayern Munich - 20.45