At the final whistle, the score is 5-2 in Munich. Lewandowski nets a hat-trick. Gnabry and Sané are also on target against Benfica in this Champions League Group E Showdown!
Robert Lewandowski marked his 100th UEFA Champions League (UCL) appearance with a hat-trick, as Bayern Munich beat Benfica to reach the knockout stages of the competition.
Lewandowski opened the scoring on 21 minutes when he headed in Kingsley Coman’s cross from a tight angle. The striker then found Serge Gnabry just after the half-hour mark and he applied a neat backheeled finish from 6 yards out.
Brazilian defender Morato then pulled one back on 34 minutes for Benfica, before Lewandowski had a weak, low penalty saved in the middle of the goal.
Leroy Sané’s sweet half-volley and two Lewandowski chips, either side of a 74th-minute Darwin Núñez goal, sealed victory on the night.
Lewandowski’s second goal involved a wonderful first touch and finish from Leroy Sané’s pass. Then the Poland international took possession of Manuel Neuer’s long ball and expertly lobbed over Odysseas Vlachodimos, from the edge of the box.
Legendary Polish striker Lewandowski has now scored 81 UCL goals – including four hat-tricks – in his 100 appearances in the competition.
He has netted 22 goals in 18 games for Bayern Munich so far this campaign – including eight goals in four in the UCL.
The Bavarians, who have won all four games and scored a joint-record 17 goals at this stage, are six points above second-placed Barcelona. The Munich club are now one of the favourites to lift the UCL trophy in Saint Petersburg in May. Benfica are third in Group E on four points.
