Raffael and Thorgan Hazard both scored hat-tricks as Borussia Monchengladbach eased into the Champions League group stage with an 8-2 aggregate victory over Swiss side Young Boys.
The Bundesliga club, leading 3-1 from the first leg in Bern, never looked in danger of exiting the competition as Hazard’s opener and two quick-fire goals from Brazilian Raffael gave them a 3-0 advantage at the break.
Again 😱😱😱😂😂😂⚽️⚽️⚽️ well done litlle bro ❤️ @HazardThorgan8
— Eden hazard (@hazardeden10) August 24, 2016
Belgian Hazard tapped home Raffael’s centre to extend the lead before the latter completed his treble from close range.
An unstoppable free-kick from French forward Yoric Ravet pulled one back for the visitors but Hazard had the final say as he turned in a pass from substitute Julian Korb.
Raffael ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 24, 2016
Hazard ⚽️⚽️⚽️
All in a good day's work... pic.twitter.com/EoTrbOblJo
Manchester City also comfortably secured their place in Thursday’s draw with a 6-0 aggregate victory over Steaua Bucharest.
Fabian Delph headed the only goal of the night at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s much-changed side added to their resounding success in the Romanian capital last week.
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and David Silva were among those left out, while goalkeeper Joe Hart, the subject of much transfer speculation, captained City on what could be his final appearance for the club.
Midfielder Delph, who had moments earlier been denied by Steaua goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru, nodded in Jesus Navas’ cross from the right with 56 minutes played.
Four-time European champions Ajax were the most high-profile casualty as they were condemned to the Europa League by a 5-2 aggregate defeat by FC Rostov.
The Eredvisie runners-up, who last lifted the trophy in 1994, travelled to Russia level at 1-1 but fell behind to an opener from Iran international Sardar Azmoun.
Aleksandr Yerokhin’s goal helped Rostov take control before Christian Noboa and Dmitry Poloz put Dmitri Kirichenko’s team out of sight.
There was still time for Ajax captain Davy Klaassen to pull one back from the penalty spot after Fedor Kudryashov was dismissed for bringing down substitute Kasper Dolberg but the hosts were convincing winners.
A dramatic extra-time winner from El Arabi Hilal Soudani ensured Dinamo Zagreb’s place in Europe’s top competition at the expense of Austrians Red Bull Salzburg.
Salzburg looked to be heading through after Austria international Valentino Lazaro lashed them into a 2-1 aggregate lead with a spectacular strike off the woodwork,
Chilean forward Junior Fernandes had other ideas though and silenced the home crowd by finishing at the back post in the 87th minute after good work by substitute Gordon Schildenfeld to force an additional 30 minutes.
Algerian forward Soudani then settled the tie five minutes into extra-time, nodding home at the second attempt after his initial effort was kept out by the Salzburg keeper Alexander Walke.
In the night’s other play-off clash, FC Copenhagen needed a late goal to edge past Cypriots Apoel Nicosia.
Paraguayan Federico Santander scored four minutes from time to cancel out Pieros Sotiriou’s 69th-minute opener and send the Danish champions through 2-1 on aggregate.
