Lewandowski nets hat-trick as Bayern seal Last-16 spot

Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski after scoring against Benfica on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images

Robert Lewandowski marked reaching the milestone of 100 Champions League appearances with a hat-trick on Tuesday as Bayern Munich punched their ticket for the Last 16 with a 5-2 home win over Benfica.

Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane scored for Bayern at the Allianz Arena while Benfica's Morato and Darwin Nunez netted for the visitors.

Lewandowski, who also had a penalty saved, has now chalked up 81 Champions League goals and 100 appearances since his competition debut for ex-club Dortmund a decade ago. "I never thought I would have so many games with so many goals," Lewandowski told Amazon. "In the first 20 minutes I hardly got the ball, which makes it hard for a striker to stay patient. After the first goal, it always goes a bit easier."

Bayern's fourth straight win in Europe guarantees them a Last 16 place with two group games left as they hold a six-point lead at the top of Group E.

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