Pizarro nets hat-trick as Bayern rout sorry Lille

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) –

Bayern Munich’s Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben (L) and Bayern Munich’s Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro celebrate during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match FC Bayern Munich vs Lille (LOSC) in Munich, southern Germany. Bayern won 6-1.

Bayern Munich ran riot on Wednesday as Claudio Pizarro scored a hat-trick in only 15 minutes in a 6-1 hammering of hapless French side Lille in their Champions League group clash here Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Pizarro needed just a quarter of an hour in the first half to wrap up his treble as Bayern raced into a 5-0 lead after only 33 minutes as the French club suffered their worst away defeat in the fooChampions League.

“Right from the start, we put in a very good performance. It has been a long time since I have scored three goals, so I am very happy,” said Pizarro.

Despite the drubbing and after Valencia won 4-2 at home to BATE Borisov, Bayern are only second in the group behind Spaniards while Lille are definitely out having garnered not a single point.

“They scored with almost every attempt on goal,” said Lille captain Rio Mavuba.

Lille’s forward Nolan Roux (C) looks up at the scoreboard during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match FC Bayern Munich vs Lille (LOSC) in Munich, southern Germany. Bayern won 6-1.

“We’re now out of the competition and it hurts.

“We fought last year to be here and to produce a performance that is not worthy of the club is really disappointing.”

Despite being only Bayern’s third-choice striker behind injured German star Mario Gomez and Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic, who was rested, Pizarro seized his chance having also scored twice in Bayern’s German Cup win last week.

Pizarro’s triple was the third fastest in Champions League history: the record still belongs to Blackburn Rovers‘ Mike Newell, who scored three goals in nine minutes against Rosenborg in December 1995.

Since losing 1-0 at home to Bayern a fortnight ago, Rudi Garcia’s Lille had won both their French league games, but were only on level terms with Bayern for five minutes.

Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger curled a free-kick around the near post to start the rout.

The lead doubled on 18 minutes when Pizarro took a return pass from France’s Franck Ribery on the edge of the area and fired home.

Bayern Munich’s midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (L) celebrates scoring with his teammate Brazilian defender Dante (R) during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match FC Bayern Munich vs Lille (LOSC) in Munich, southern Germany. Bayern won 6-1.

The third arrived on 23 minutes when Arjen Robben’s free-kick crashed into Lille defender Florent Balmont and deflected into the goal with Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau caught out.

With less than half an hour on the clock and the Lille defence waving Bayern’s attack through numerous holes, the fourth goal came as captain Philipp Lahm found space on the right wing and Pizarro converted his 28th-minute cross.

The Peru star wrapped up his hat-trick just five minutes later when he met Lahm’s cross again, this time on the far post to make it 5-0.

Something had to change in the Lille ranks at the break and coach Rudi Garcia made two substitions to bolster his defence.

Ex-Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou of the Ivory Coast pulled a goal back for Lille when he crashed his shot in off the cross bar on 57 minutes.

But Bayern’s sixth came when substitute Toni Kroos smashed home Lahm’s pass on 66 minutes, 33 minutes after Munich’s previous goal.

Lille are not the only team to fall foul of Bayern’s Allianz Arena fortress this year as FC Basel were hammered here 7-0 in March in the round of 16 return leg when Gomez scored four after Munich had lost the first-leg in Switzerland.