On Tuesday, Robert Lewandowski scored a record-breaking hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed Salzburg 7-1 to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals.
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.
Leroy Sane had the final say in a one-sided encounter that saw Bayern seal an 8-2 aggregate win.
Lewandowski buried a penalty after his excellent turn drew a foul from Maximilian Wober.
The latter 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 excellent 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.
Later Kingsley Coman put a through ball to Gnabry, who makes it 4-0 before the interval.
Muller rifled a fine finish into the bottom-right corner as Bayern continued to dominate after the restart.
Still, Kjaergaard pulled one back for Salzburg nine minutes after replacing Chukwubuike Adamu.
Sane set up Muller for his second game in the 83rd minute and was on target himself two minutes later.
To complete a resounding victory, he scored from Lewandowski’s flick home at the near post.
What does it mean? Lewandowski is back on song in Europe.
After failing to register a single effort on goal in Bayern’s two previous Champions League games – the first time 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, Ronaldo and Messi better record.
Neuer returns
Manuel Neuer made his 104th Champions League appearance for Bayern Munich.
However, he could not mark the occasion with a clean sheet.
What’s next?
On Saturday, Bayern has a tricky trip to top-four chasing Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Salzburg is against Sturm Graz on Sunday.