Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has spearheaded his membership’s 7-1 win over Austrian champions RB Salzburg, scoring a 12-minute hat-trick within the first half because it eased by to the Champions League quarter closing.
Key factors:
- Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski scored the earliest hat-trick in Champions League historical past
- The German champions have scored seven or extra targets within the competitors for a file seventh time
- Liverpool additionally made it by to the quarter-final regardless of a 1-0 loss to Inter at Anfield
It was the very best response to their rusty efficiency within the first leg in February, which required a Kingsley Coman equaliser in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw.
The outspoken Poland worldwide, who led calls final week for soccer to boycott Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, opened the scoring by a Twelfth-minute penalty after being clumsily introduced down within the field by Salzburg defender Maximilian Wober.
The centre-back was at fault once more within the nineteenth minute, with VAR confirming yet one more penalty that Lewandowski slotted residence. The Pole accomplished his hat-trick two minutes later, chasing a Thomas Muller through-ball that Salzburg goalkeeper Kohn bundled proper into Lewandowski’s path, deflecting it onto the put up earlier than a easy tap-in to make it 3-0.
It’s the Munich ahead’s fifth hat-trick within the Champions League, and the earliest that the competitors has ever seen.
The tie was all however over by the half-hour mark when Serge Gnabry fizzed a low shot previous Kohn for 4-0, whereas Muller received on the scoresheet early within the second half, pirouetting within the field earlier than drilling residence Bayern’s fifth objective within the 54th minute.
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Salzburg teenager Maurits Kjaergaard pulled a objective again within the seventieth minute, nevertheless it did nothing to decelerate the German giants, who slotted two extra previous Kohn by Muller and Leroy Sane within the recreation’s closing phases.
Bayern has now scored seven or extra targets in Europe’s most prestigious membership competitors for a file seventh time.
Regardless of its dominance although — together with 70 per cent possession — Bayern left itself susceptible by its aggressive attacking type that opened up house behind wingbacks Coman and Gnabry.
Salzburg ahead Nicolas Capaldo had his aspect’s first likelihood inside two minutes because of this, and it took a handful of miraculous saves from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to maintain the Austrians at bay.
“Right this moment it was an opponent on a special degree,” Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen mentioned afterwards.
“We had some probabilities, however should you do not make them depend, it is tough. It had nothing to do with angle, focus or the match plan. They merely had been higher in all features — that is it.”
Liverpool squeak previous Inter
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Liverpool certified for the quarter-final 2-1 on mixture after dropping 1-0 at residence to a vibrant Internazionale aspect, capped by a surprising Lautaro Martinez strike simply on the hour.
The Reds got here into the tie with a 2-0 benefit from the primary leg, and having by no means didn’t progress to the following stage after profitable the primary leg away previously 34 video games, historical past was in favour of the Premier League aspect.
However the Italian guests made Liverpool work for it, coming into the second leg with a transparent plan to out-press and out-manoeuvre a workforce well-known for having practically perfected each in recent times.
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Inter’s passing was slick and decisive, slicing by Liverpool’s naturally excessive line on quite a few events, requiring the speedy Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to comb to the rescue.
Liverpool had a handful of probabilities fall to Mohamed Salah, who hit the woodwork twice, in addition to Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk within the first half, however profitable attacking passages had been few and much between.
Alexander-Arnold’s set items provided the deadliest alternatives for the Reds, however poor and unfortunate ending noticed each side enter half-time at 0-0.
The breakthrough for the stoic Inter got here within the 61st minute as Martinez, who had threatened all night, scored a Aim of the Season contender, rocketing an unstoppable shot into the highest nook.
They could have added one other had they not gone right down to 10 males minutes after the objective with Alexis Sanchez despatched off, incomes a second yellow for a careless problem on Fabinho.
Liverpool had snatches late within the recreation, together with a late likelihood for brand spanking new signing Luis Diaz that stand-out Inter midfielder Arturo Vidal sensationally blocked, however was unable to drag a objective again.
It mattered little although because the Reds squeaked by to the following stage 2-1 on mixture.