Robert Lewandowski scored four goals on Wednesday as Borussia Dortmund beat Real Madrid 4-1 in a top-class performance by the German club. The Polish striker netted a hat-trick in the 55th minute before driving home a penalty kick later in the second half to become the first player ever to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final.
Eight minutes into the match, Lewandowski tapped in a Mario Götze header to give Dortmund an early lead. Götze made headlines earlier this week when he decided to use his release clause to join rival Bayern Munich at the end of this season .
The transfer must wait until July 1st, and Götze may have to face his future club in the Champions League Final. Bayern Munich won the first leg of their semi-finals match-up in a 4-0 thrashing of FC Barcelona making way for an all-German Final.
Dortmund’s early momentum in Wednesday’s match quickly turned as Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in for his 50th Champions League goal of his career just before the half. Dortmund’s Marco Reus was tripped up by Raphael Varane in the penalty area but didn’t receive the call which led to a break for Real Madrid.
After a poor pass from Mats Hummels, Gonzalo Higuain found space and went on a run before finding Ronaldo for a tap-in. Dortmund’s crowd went silent for a moment as Real Madrid picked up a crucial away-goal.
Jose Mourinho’s club looked to have the advantage going into the second half but Dortmund pressured early and Lewandowski stole the show. He got the crowd back in it with his second goal of the match off a shot from Reus’ that Madrid believed was offside.
Reus took a chance from the top of the box that ended up on Lewandowski’s right foot for another quick tap-in. The hat-trick came five minutes later when left-back Marcel Shmeltzer’s effort went off a defender and into the middle of the box.
Lewandowski was there to pick up the loose ball and hit a beautifully-placed strike that found the top corner for a 3-1 Dortmund lead. It all came crashing down for Real Madrid in the 67th minute as Xabi Alonso took out Reus in the penalty area while battling for a header.
Lewandowski stepped up for the penalty kick and went top corner again to beat goalkeeper Diego Lopez to finish off Real Madrid. Dortmund kept up the pressure into stoppage time as Real Madrid looked to add another away-goal.
A second never came for Real Madrid as the whistle blowed, sending the Blancos back home with a 4-1 defeat. Here are the highlights from the Champions League semi-final including each of Lewandowski’s four goals:
The second leg of the semi-final match-up will be April 30 as Dortmund will look to put away Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu. Barring a miracle for Spain’s top-club, the German-side will reach the Champions League Final for the first time since winning it all over Juventus in 1996-97.
Can Borussia Dortmund return to European glory by finishing off Real Madrid next Tuesday on their way to the Champions League Final?
[Image via Christopher Neundorf ]