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Lewandowski breaks record as Bayern blast into Champions League quarters, Liverpool survive scare
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Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski needs just 11 minutes to score three goals during their Champions League round of 16 clash with Salzburg in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2022. /AP

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski needs just 11 minutes to score three goals during their Champions League round of 16 clash with Salzburg in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2022. /AP

Robert Lewandowski scored a record-breaking 11-minute hat-trick to send Bayern Munich sailing into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-1 win at home to Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday.

The Polish striker had three goals to his name by the 23rd minute, the earliest anyone has ever completed a hat-trick in a Champions League game, as Bayern shook off their early nerves to crush Salzburg.

"This was definitely a statement from us, and it gives us hope that there is more like this to come," Bayern captain Manuel Neuer told Amazon Prime after his side reached the last eight for a record 20th time. 

Austrian champions Salzburg had held Bayern to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but their hopes of an upset in Munich were left in tatters when Lewandowski scored a tap-in and two penalties to send Bayern on their way to a famous victory. 

With just 10 minutes and 27 seconds between Lewandowski's first and third goals, it was the fastest of the six hat-tricks the Pole has now scored in the Champions League.

"We knew we had to attack the box early today and get Lewy into the game, because he is so hard to defend against," said Thomas Mueller.

"We all knew how important this game was today. If we had been knocked out, it would have been a very sad next three months for us," he added.

Salzburg's Nicolas Seiwald (C) reacts after Bayern's third goal during their Champions League clash in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2022. /AP

Salzburg's Nicolas Seiwald (C) reacts after Bayern's third goal during their Champions League clash in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2022. /AP

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah admitted Liverpool might have suffered from complacency as they crept into a fourth Champions League quarter-final in five years despite a rare 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Inter Milan.

The Italian champions were unable to scale the mountain they had to climb after losing the first leg 2-0 at home three weeks ago despite Lautaro Martinez's sensational strike into the top corner just after the hour mark.

Alexis Sanchez's red card shortly afterwards punctured any Inter momentum and Liverpool comfortably held out with the extra man despite slipping to just a third defeat in 44 games in all competitions this season.

The Reds had been on a 12-game winning run to keep alive their hopes of a historic quadruple of trophies.

After lifting the League Cup last month, Jurgen Klopp's men are now into the last eight of both the Champions League and FA Cup and have a game in hand to cut Manchester City's six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

And Salah hopes they can learn from a rare off night in front of goal as they failed to score for just the fourth time this season.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during their Champions League round of 16 clash with Inter Milan at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, March 8, 2022. /AP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during their Champions League round of 16 clash with Inter Milan at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, March 8, 2022. /AP

"We lost the game and maybe that will give us a push," said the Egyptian, who hit the post twice in the second half. "Maybe in the back of our minds we were overconfident. It's a good game for us to learn from."

Inter were left to rue conceding two late goals in Milan three weeks ago after they had enjoyed the better of the game for much of the first leg.

"We've got to this stage for the first time in 10 years. We played against the strongest team in Europe in this time and were their equals," said Inter boss Simone Inzaghi. "Sometimes it just takes a single episode to change the course of a game."

"I think over the two legs it is completely fine they won one, we won one, and we are through," said Klopp. "We could have done better against an opponent who makes life really uncomfortable."

Source(s): AFP

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