Lewandowski returns as Bayern on verge of ninth straight league title
BERLIN: Bayern Munich can be crowned Bundesliga champions for the ninth successive season on Saturday with top-scorer Robert Lewandowski returning from injury and eyeing the league’s all-time record of 40 goals in a single campaign.
Bayern are ten points clear at the top of the league and an away win at Mainz will guarantee the title with three games remaining.
Head coach Hansi Flick dropped a bombshell last weekend by saying he wants to be released from his contract at the end of the term and wants to sign off with the league title.
The Bavarians are boosted by the presence of Lewandowski, who has missed their last six games with a knee injury. The Poland striker has neted 35 goals this season and is five short of Gerd Mueller’s all-time league record of 40 set in 1971/72.
“I don’t know if I’ll do it yet,” Lewandowski said on Wednesday.
“But I hope that when I’m back on the pitch, I can be at my usual level from the first minute and score goals.”
Mainz have won four of their last six games to pull clear of the relegation batle, but they last beat Bayern five years ago.
Germanywingersergegnabrycouldbeincluded in the Bayern squad ater resuming training for the first time since testing positive for Covid-19.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund are running out of chances to qualify for the Champions League, but can take a step closer to the European top-tier at third-placed Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The top four of the Bundesliga qualify for the Champions League with Dortmund currently fith, five points behind Wolfsburg.
Dortmunddefendermatshummelsissuspended ater picking up a fith yellow card this season in Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over Union Berlin.
Dortmund’s hopes could also be boosted if fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who are one place and four points ahead of them, struggle again at Bayer Leverkusen.
Frankfurt have lost their last six league games at Leverkusen, but claimed a 2-0 win at home to Augsburg on Tuesday with top-scorer Andre Silva heading in his 24th league goal this season.
With four games let, Frankfurt are on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
There is a question over Frankfurt’s Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada, who suffered a freak finger injury at home.
German league fixtures (all times 1330GMT unless stated)
On Friday: Augsburg vs Cologne (1830)
On Saturday: VFL Wolfsburg vs Borussia Dortmund, Freiburg vs Hoffenheim, Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen, Mainz vs Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt (1630)
On Sunday: RB Leipzig vs VFB Stutgart, Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Arminia Bielefeld ( 1600)