AC MIlan 2 Manchester United 3: Rooney overshadows Beckham

Two second-half goals from current Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney helped install last season's beaten finalists as favourites to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Not even the concession of a third-minute opener for

AC Milan, created by Beckham for Ronaldinho, could derail Sir Alex Ferguson's troops, although they were forced to endure some nervy moments at the end after Clarence Seedorf hauled Milan back into the tie five minutes from time.

It had taken a fortunate effort from Paul Scholes to bring United level before the break.

But after surviving another spell of Milan pressure after half-time, Rooney stamped his class on the contest, scoring his first two European goals of the season to take his overall tally to 25.

Antonio Valencia, who had just replaced Nani, was the provider of Rooney's first goal which gave United the lead, sending over a cross from the right that allowed the England striker to steer a header back over Dida into the opposite corner.

The age in Milan's legs began to tell and when Darren Fletcher chipped another cross into the box, Rooney stole between defenders to head home once more.

It seemed victory and progress was assured, so Ferguson will be livid at Seedorf's effort five minutes from time that ensured an uncomfortable ending and gives Milan a flicker of hope for the return in three weeks, when Michael Carrick will be unavailable following his contentious dismissal for a second caution deep into stoppage time.

Rooney said: "It was a disappointing start but after that we did well to get back into it. The second half we stepped it up and we fully deserved to win, we were always the better side.

"When we went 3-1 up I thought it was only us that looked like scoring (again). The goal keeps Milan in the tie but 3-2 in the San Siro is a great result."

Rooney cut a frustrated figure through much of the first half as Milan largely dominated and he hinted it was displeasure with the referee's performance that was riling him.

Jean Makoun's brilliant 25-yard second-half strike gave Lyon a deserved 1-0 lead to take into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.

That goal consigned Madrid to their third successive defeat at the Stade Gerland, and the Spanish club – whose Bernabeu Stadium is the venue for this year's final – have work to do if they are to avoid being dumped out at the last-16 stage for the sixth successive campaign.

Arsene Wenger maintains there can be no excuses if his injury-hit Arsenal squad fail to deliver against Porto in their tie at Estadio do Dragao tonight.

The Gunners headed to Porto without five first-team regulars, including goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin.

With centre-half William Gallas, defensive midfielder Alex Song and Croatia striker Eduardo also missing from the 18-man travelling party, the Gunners are somewhat light as they prepare for the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Wenger, though, insists being low on numbers should not be an issue for the Gunners, who did not have a game at the weekend.

"It is difficult to say how long they will be out," said Arsenal's manager. "But it is not a serious concern. The concern is that the players who are here perform at their best (tonight)."