Bayern Munich stormed into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) after a 7-1 demolition of Salzburg at the Allianz Arena, with Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick taking him past the 40-goal mark for a seventh successive season.
Aiming to become the first Austrian side to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition in 37 years, Salzburg flew out of the blocks, and calamitous defending from Bayern allowed Nicolás Capaldo a huge chance, but he took too long over the finish and was well challenged by Kinglsey Coman.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men showed no mercy in punishing that miss, as Lewandowski blitzed a hat-trick in the space of 11 minutes.
Firstly, Coman’s cross was greeted by a sumptuous turn from the Polish international, completely fooling Maximilian Wöber, who wiped him out. A penalty was duly given, and Lewandowski converted with ease.
Lewandowski repeated the act nine minutes later, after being felled by a second shocking challenge from Wöber, and the third goal was another self-inflicted wound from Salzburg, as Philipp Köhn’s clearance was charged down and eventually finished by Lewandowski.
That strike saw Lewandowski leapfrog Sébastien Haller as the UCL’s top scorer this term and put the tie well beyond question. Serge Gnabry added a fourth before the break, after yet more poor decision making at the back left the visitors in desperate need of the HT whistle.
Matthias Jaissle may have hoped that Bayern would be content with their four-goal lead, but his misery was not yet over.
Incisive build-up play from the hosts was far too intricate for a waning Salzburg defence, before Thomas Müller stroked home the fifth of the night.
The German’s 51st UCL goal took him into seventh on the all-time list, overtaking Thierry Henry.
There was a brief moment of solace for Salzburg, as 18-year-old substitute Maurits Kjaergaard found the top corner with a sweet strike that left Manuel Neuer motionless.
Müller and Leroy Sané added another two goals late on though, capping off a night of exhilarating attacking play from Bayern that may remind their adversaries of the strength they possess.
Seven wins and a draw from their eight UCL outings this term is a menacing return, as they search for a seventh European crown to go with what will surely be a 32nd German title.