Hat-trick sends Dortmund through

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick saw Dortmund easily overturn a first-leg deficit against Benfica in the Champions League last 16

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Benfica to ease into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The hosts trailed 1-0 on aggregate from the first leg but Aubameyang levelled the last-16 tie after just four minutes with a header at the back post.

Winger Franco Cervi twice came close to scoring a vital away goal for Benfica before the interval.

But Dortmund took control after Christian Pulisic scored on 59 minutes.

The 18-year-old winger brilliantly chipped onrushing goalkeeper Ederson after being slid in by Lukasz Piszczek.

Aubameyang, who missed a penalty in the first leg in Lisbon, then swept in Marcel Schmelzer’s low cross two minutes later before an unmarked Marc Bartra hit the post from a corner.

The Gabon striker completed his treble with five minutes remaining as he turned in Erik Durm’s sublime pass.

Dortmund have now lost only one of their last 12 European home matches under coach Thomas Tuchel as they reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2014.

‘We didn’t want the first leg to annoy us’

Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel: “That was the perfect time for ‘Auba’ to get his hat-trick.

“It was a sensational performance. I love goals like his first one because they need such good timing and Auba is always there with his nose for goal.

“We had a great start, then we lost our way after 25 minutes, but the second half was a top performance.

“We didn’t want to let the first-leg defeat annoy us, now we are in the last eight and we want to go further.”

Live Text

Match ends, Borussia Dortmund 4, Benfica 0.

Second Half ends, Borussia Dortmund 4, Benfica 0.

Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Lukasz Piszczek tries a through ball, but Erik Durm is caught offside.

Foul by Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund).

Nelsinho (Benfica) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Matthias Ginter replaces Sokratis because of an injury.

Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. André Schürrle replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Goal! Borussia Dortmund 4, Benfica 0. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Erik Durm.

Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Gonzalo Castro with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Borussia Dortmund. Conceded by Eliseu.

Substitution, Benfica. Raúl Jiménez replaces Franco Cervi.

Sokratis (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jonas (Benfica).

Foul by Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund).

Nelsinho (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa replaces Ousmane Dembélé because of an injury.

Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by André Almeida (Benfica).

Offside, Benfica. Luisão tries a through ball, but Jonas is caught offside.

Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tries a through ball, but Ousmane Dembélé is caught offside.

Gonzalo Castro (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Pizzi (Benfica).

Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Roman Bürki tries a through ball, but Ousmane Dembélé is caught offside.

Substitution, Benfica. Andrija Zivkovic replaces Andreas Samaris.

Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Luisão (Benfica).

Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Andreas Samaris (Benfica).

Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by André Almeida (Benfica).

Offside, Borussia Dortmund. Roman Bürki tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.

Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Benfica).

Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Marc Bartra.

Foul by Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund).

Kostas Mitroglou (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt missed. Gonzalo Castro (Borussia Dortmund) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund).

Franco Cervi (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Hat-trick sends Dortmund through