Aubameyang sends Dortmund into quarter-finals

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund overturned a first-leg deficit against Benfica to reach the last eight of the Champions League.

Trailing 1-0 after the match in Portugal three weeks ago, it took the German side just four minutes to draw level on aggregate, when Aubameyang headed in at the back post after a well-worked corner.

Dortmund were on top for the most part but Franco Cervi spurned two good chances for Benfica to score the away goal that would have changed the complexion of the tie.

As it was, two goals in two second-half minutes sealed victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who have now lost only one of their last 12 home games in Europe.

Firstly, in the 59th minute, teenager Christian Pulisic dinked the ball over the advancing Benfica goalkeeper, Santana de Moraes, before Aubameyang scored his second of the night, with a tap-in after good work from Marcel Schmelzer.

Aubameyang, who also went close with a spectacular bicycle kick, completed his treble five minutes from time, converting an Erik Durm cross from close range. The Gabon striker, linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, has now scored 30 goals this season.

Dortmund, who are third in the Bundesliga, become the second German team through to the quarter-finals, after Bayern Munich completed their 10-2 aggregate rout of Arsenal on Tuesday night.