- After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Bayern Munich thrashed RB Salzburg in the second leg to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League
- Bayern Munich won 7-1 at Allianz Arena to win 8-2 on aggregate to earn their place in the quarters
- Robert Lewandowski was on the forefront of punishing Salzburg scoring a first-half hat-trick to take home the match-ball
Robert Lewandowski scored a record-breaking hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed Salzburg 7-1 to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
After struggling in their 1-1 draw in the first leg three weeks ago, Lewandowski hit the ground running and had a treble by the 23rd minute. That made it the earliest hat-trick in Champions League history.
It crushed Salzburg after a bright start and Serge Gnabry was on target as Bayern registered four first-half goals in a Champions League knockout game for the fourth time – as many as all other clubs combined.
Substitute Maurits Kjaergaard pulled one back for Salzburg between a double from Thomas Muller, with Leroy Sane having the final say in a one-sided encounter that saw Bayern seal an 8-2 aggregate win.
Bayern Munich players celebrate after scoring against RB Salzburg in the Champions League clash. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
Lewandowski buried a penalty after his excellent turn drew a foul from Maximilian Wober, who then saw a free-kick he gave away following a tackle on the Pole upgraded to a spot-kick following a VAR review. It resulted in another cool finish into the bottom-left corner from the striker.
The hat-trick was completed when Lewandowski blocked Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Kohn’s clearance and bundled the ball home with his thigh after it came back off the post.
Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his third against RB Salzburg in the Champions League clash at Allianz Arena. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
The onslaught continued as Mohamed Camara was caught in possession on the edge of Salzburg’s box by Kingsley Coman and Gnabry drilled home from the Frenchman’s pass.
Muller rifled a fine finish into the bottom-right corner as Bayern continued to dominate after the restart, but Kjaergaard pulled one back for Salzburg nine minutes after replacing Chukwubuike Adamu.
Sane set up Muller for his second of the game in the 83rd minute and was on target himself two minutes later, steering Lewandowski’s flick home at the near post to complete a resounding victory.
After failing to register a single effort on goal in Bayern’s two previous Champions League games – the first time that has happened in his career – Lewandowski hit the ground running at the Allianz Arena.
He took little time to score his fifth hat-trick in the competition, a tally that is only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (both eight).
Manuel Neuer made his 104th Champions League appearance for Bayern – surpassing Oliver Kahn as the Bayern goalkeeper with the most appearances in the competition. He was unable to mark the occasion with a clean sheet, though.
Salzburg was always going to be up against it in Munich, but Wober’s clumsy challenges all but ended their hopes of progressing before the midway point of the first half had been reached.
Bayern have a tricky trip to top-four chasing Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while Salzburg are up against Sturm Graz on Sunday.
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