UCL: Bayern progress to the quarterfinals as Lewandowski scores earliest hat-trick in Champions League history
Robert Lewandowski scored hat-trick inside the opening 23 minutes as Bayern Munich thrashed Bull Red Salzburg to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Poland captain, on his 100th start in the competition, confidently stroked home two penalties inside 21 minutes, after twice being recklessly brought down by Salzburg defender Maximilian Wober, the second confirmed after a VAR review.
His first spot-kick, swept into the bottom-left corner, was his 40th goal of the season in all competitions.
He added his third after chasing down an attempted clearance from visiting goalkeeper Philipp Kohn to tap in from close range.
It is the first time a Champions League hat-trick has been completed inside 23 minutes, although it is not the quickest treble in the competition, with that record held by Bafetimbi Gomis following his three goals in eight minutes for Lyon in a 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
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Bayern’s quick start put them firmly in control of a game that had been billed as “all or nothing” by some in the Bavarian media after the six-time winners were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw in the first leg in Austria.
Matthias Jaissle’s Salzburg had early chances with Nicolas Capaldo and Nicolas Seiwald both guilty of failing to convert glorious opportunities.
They were made to pay for their profligacy by the deadly Lewandowski before another mistake in defence allowed Serge Gnabry to add a fourth with a low shot that squirmed under Kohn, while Thomas Muller thumped in a fifth after the break.
On an otherwise bleak night for the visitors Maurits Kjaergaard did at least mange a consolation with a powerful effort into the top-left corner.
But that only seemed to stir Julian Nagelsmann’s team back into life, with Muller finishing off a well-worked move for number six before Leroy Sane thumped home late on.
