Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho praised a resilient APOEL team but suggested that individual talent saw his side run out eventual 3-0 winners at the GSP Stadium.
It took Los Blancos 74 minutes to open the scoring after some stalwart defending from the hosts, but the introduction of Kaka turned things in their favour. He assisted Karim Benzema's first goal before adding the game's second.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Mourinho said: "It took many minutes to score the first goal, but APOEL were performing very well.
"We won the match because we played well. APOEL were great defensively and they had great team spirit.
"We give 100 per cent so we can win. What APOEL are doing is fantastic."
Mourinho was pleased with the impact that the introduction of Kaka and Marcelo had, galvanising the side and ultimately making the difference.
"We knew it was going to be a complicated match for them but sending in Kaka an Marcelo was decisive," he continued.
"We were serious and we played well. This shows how much respect we have for APOEL.
"I would like to show the same respect at the [Santiago] Bernabeu. They are the most important team of this Champions League."
Mourinho looks set to continue his 100 per cent quarter-final record as Madrid host APOEL in the return leg in Spain next week with a comfortable three-goal advantage.
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