Champions League, round of 16: Bayern Munich offers a demonstration against Salzburg to go to the quarter

We expected a reaction from Bayern Munich after the almost lucky draw in the first leg against RB Salzburg (1-1) and the German club responded. Finally, he did much more by killing all suspense in this knockout round of the Champions League in the space of 23 minutes. The time it took Robert Lewandowski to end a three-game drought and claim the fastest hat-trick in C1 history after a kick-off. Evolving again like a real steamroller, Bayern Munich did not miss their meeting with a real demonstration at the Allianz Arena (7-1) and will see the quarter-finals well.

This meeting was ultimately only a fair clarification on the part of the Bavarians. We said they had been struggling for weeks, in doubt, that we almost hoped to see Salzburg make the big hit. But, it is to forget that the experience of these matches is well on the German side. Julian Nagelsmann’s men had already tasted such a scenario a few years ago by being hooked on the first leg by Porto or Shakhtar before the return ended in butchery (7-0 and 6-1).

Lewandowski a little more in history

In 2022, the sanction was the same and the Austrian club did nothing to fix their affairs. Aware that Bayern were keen to set the record straight in this second leg, RB Salzburg gave the baton to be beaten with Maximilian Wober as martyr. The central defender sank the hopes of his teammates with two stupidly conceded penalties and which Lewandowski took pleasure in converting.

At the time of the first Bavarian goal, the relief was read on the face of Nagelsmann and the German had something to feel lighter. Because, if the final score was an orgy of goals as suggested by each trip of the Austrian club to Germany (3.6 goals on average), the scenario could have been quite different without Kingsley Coman. Heroic scorer at the end of the first leg, the French piston was very quickly on Tuesday evening, countering with the tip of the foot a shot from Capalo which was on its way to the goal (2nd). Certainly a turning point in this match, promised to a beautiful opposition of style for ten minutes before turning to the Bavarian demonstration.

Nagelsmann was able to spin

At 4-0 at the break after a goal from Gnabry on an offering from the former PSG, it is difficult to imagine a real reaction from the Austrians, stunned, in the second half. There was indeed a burst of pride in saving honor thanks to Kjaergaard (70th) after a large workforce review at Bayern but the march was far too high. Especially when opposite, the duo Lewandowski – Müller is back in business.

After his hat-trick, the Pole decided to be more altruistic, switching roles with his friend. Scorer of a double, Thomas Müller also found his way back to goals (48th, 83rd) and made this evening a real ordeal for his opponents, who left with the biggest European defeat in their history after a seventh goal from Leroy Sané five minutes from time … Bayern Munich’s reaction was expected, it turned into a real demonstration. How to send a real message to Europe? We will still have to see against an opponent of another caliber…