Modest Braga, who have never won a Portuguese league title, stunned five-times European champions Liverpool 1-0 with a first-half penalty in the Europa League on Thursday. Twice European champions Porto won 1-0 at CSKA Moscow in another of the round-of-16 first leg ties and Benfica completed an excellent night for Portugal with a 2-1 win over visiting Paris St Germain.
Former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko set Dynamo Kiev on the way to a 2-0 home win over big-spending Manchester City and wasteful Ajax Amsterdam were beaten 1-0 at home by Spartak Moscow. Brazil striker Nilmar came off the bench to score twice, including a stoppage-time winner, in Villarreal's 3-2 triumph at Bayer Leverkusen on a night when South Americans were very much in evidence.
Braga dominated the first half against visitors Liverpool and Portuguese Alan converted his spot kick in the 18th minute after defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos tripped Brazilian Mossoro. Manager Kenny Dalglish was angry with Liverpool's first-half display during which Silvio also hit the woodwork for Braga.
CSKA, playing their 11th match in this season's competition, slumped to their first defeat after a superb effort from Porto's Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin who turned his marker and scored from 25 metres in the 70th minute. Brazil striker Nilmar came off the bench in the 69th minute for Villarreal at Leverkusen and scored within a minute to put his team 2-1 ahead.
PSV Eindhoven completed a night of mixed fortunes for the Dutch when they were held 0-0 at home by Rangers. A glaring second-half miss by PSV's Marcelo, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy, was the closest either side came to a goal. The second legs will be played on March 17.