As the clock struck 8 pm at FC Bayern's Allianz Arena, Leroy Sané left the pitch to a standing ovation from the 75,000 spectators in attendance. Not for the first time in the Champions League, he was the standout performer in the 5-0 win over Viktoria Plzen. With a well-taken brace, the 26-year-old took his tally to a tournament-leading four goals for the season.
Power and finesse
It took just seven minutes for Mr. Champions League to set the tone. Collecting a pass from Jamal Musiala, Sané drove forward before arrowing a thunderous 20-yard strike into the top corner for 1-0. Bayern's cultured No.10 went one better with his next effort, crowning a silky outside-of-the-boot first touch to bring Man of the Match Sadio Mané's long ball under wraps with a deft finish that put Bayern 4-0 up with 50 minutes gone. As well as his goals, Sané's brilliance on the ball and willingness to get back and win challenges provided further evidence of a man very much at the top of his game.
Favourite competition
The statistics don't lie. Sane is now only the second Bayern player in history, after Robert Lewandowski, to score in the first three group games of a Champions League campaign.
There's just something about the competition that brings the best out of him. In his last 12 Champions League appearances in Bayern colours, Sané has had a direct hand in 16 goals (10 of his own, plus six assists). His Plzen salvo, meanwhile, marked the third brace of his Champions League career.
Nagelsmann on his top scorer
"I think really highly of Leroy. As a person, I have a good connection with him, I like him a lot. He's one of the best players in Europe and I really rate him," enthused coach Julian Nagelsmann after the full-time whistle. "He can undo any team with his pace and dribbling, and has world-class game-changing abilities."
With eight goals, Sane is Bayern's overall top scorer for the campaign, one ahead of Mane and Musiala. Further goals are a given - hopefully with a fair few more star turns along the way.
Relive a record-breaking Champions League night for Bayern below:
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