Robert Lewandowski completed his hat-trick in record time as Bayern Munich gave RB Salzburg a harsh reality check with a 7-1 drubbing at the Allianz Arena to reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday. 

The Polish striker stroked in two penalties before pressing visiting goalkeeper Philipp Kohn into a mistake to tap in from close range for his treble within just 23 minutes – the earliest time a player has scored three goals in the competition’s history. 

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It is not the quickest Champions League hat-trick, however, with that record belonging to Bafetimbo Gomis, after he scored thrice in just eight minutes for Lyon against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.

The previous quickest hat trick from the start of a Champions League match came in 24 minutes from Marco Simone for AC Milan against Rosenborg in 1996.

Lewandowski, who finished as runner in last year’s Ballon d’Or, also became the first player across Europe’s top five leagues to score 40 goals in all competitions, reaching that landmark with his first penalty, taking his tally to 42 at the end of the night. 

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A second leg that started at 1-1 was tilted 4-1 in Bayern’s favor by the Pole’s masterclass. An 8-2 aggregate win to reach the quarterfinals was completed by further goals from Serge Gnabry, a double from Thomas Müller, and Leroy Sané.

At least Salzburg avoided complete humiliation of not scoring with Maurits Kjaergaard netting for the Austrian team in Bavaria.

“That was a statement win,” Bayern captain Manuel Neuer said.

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“I think we showed a different side of ourselves today and didn’t concede as many chances on the break. We were also more stable in defense, which obviously gives us hope that things can continue in that vein.”

“Today we had the luck that was completely missing in Salzburg,” Müller said. “We could have gone 1-0 down after five minutes. You’re always a little dependent on situations like that, but overall we were better.”