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Gomez heads Bayernâ€™s record romp against Basel

13 March 2012 23:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Mario Gomez scored four goals as FC Bayern MÃ¼nchen cruised into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a record-breaking victory against FC Basel 1893, APA reports quoting uefa.com.

The visitorsâ€™ 1-0 aggregate lead was swiftly wiped out by Arjen Robben and, after dominating in front of a euphoric home crowd, Bayern seized control shortly before the break with goals from Thomas MÃ¼ller and Gomez. The latter completed his hat-trick a minute past the hour and swiftly added another to take his personal tally in this seasonâ€™s competition to ten. Robben rounded off a memorable night with his second late on.

Having already scored seven on Saturday against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, Bayern were brimming with confidence and soon set about eradicating Baselâ€™s first-leg lead. They were only denied an early opener by Aleksandar DragoviÄ‡â€™s saving tackle on Robben, but it was not long before the Dutchman was celebrating as Toni Kroosâ€™ 11th-minute strike ricocheted into his path. With only Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer to beat, Robben set himself before sending a crisp finish low into the corner.

The pressure continued as Bayern sought to swing the tie in their favour. Gomez had a powerful near-post effort repelled by Sommer, who also produced a fine one-handed stop to keep out MÃ¼llerâ€™s header midway through the half. Kroos fired a searing shot narrowly over, but as Alexander Frei hinted when he half-volleyed over at the other end, Bayernâ€™s position remained precarious.

Any fears were quelled in the final three minutes of the first half, however, as the home side twice added to their tally. First Robben, having sprinted to keep a loose ball in on the right, swung in an inviting cross for MÃ¼ller to guide in at the near post. Gomez then made Jupp Heynckesâ€™ half-time team talk even easier with a close-range finish after Holger Badstuber had squared a Kroos free-kick.

Any plans Basel may have had of containing their opponents in the second period were soon ruined as Gomez doubled his tally within five minutes of the restart, hooking in RibÃ©ryâ€™s cross from the left. Sommer denied the Germany striker at his near post, but the hat-trick soon came as the 26-year-old glanced in after another winding RibÃ©ry run; his fifth treble of the season.

Marco Streller finally called home goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into action with a good turn and strike but the night belonged to Bayern and Gomez. Not content with his tally, the in-form forward slammed in his fourth of the night on 67 minutes from yet another RibÃ©ry cross, in the process equalling Dado PrÅ¡oâ€™s record for the quickest four-goal haul in the competition having collected his strikes in 23 minutes.

The last word belonged to Robben, who again sprang the visitorsâ€™ defence to round Sommer and slot in the seventh goal of a mesmerising display from Bayern. The margin of victory eclipsed previous 7-1 UEFA Champions League knockout successes for Bayern and FC Barcelona and makes Heynckesâ€™ side one to avoid in Fridayâ€™s draw.