Bayern’s Lewandowski breaks his goal drought against Fortuna
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski ended a personal jinx when he opened his account against Fortuna Düsseldorf by scoring twice in a 5-0 win on Saturday as the holders moved closer to a recordextending 30th Bundesliga title.
The thumping victory left leaders Bayern, who are chasing an eighth successive league title, top of the standings on 67 points from 29 games, 10 ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Lewandowski snapped his drought of no goals in matches against Fortuna when he scored to give Bayern a 3-0 lead in the first half after a Mathias Joergensen own goal and a Benjamin Pavard header opened the floodgates.
It also meant the Pole had netted against every current Bundesliga team, having failed to score in five league meetings against Fortuna either with Bayern or his previous club Dortmund.
The prolific striker’s brace took his season’s tally in all competitions to 43 goals and equalled his personal best, which was set in the 2016/2017 campaign.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who became the club’s first coach to win 22 of his opening 25 games in charge and surpassed Pep Guardiola’s record of 21, stressed he only cared about filling the trophy cabinet. “I am not interested in statistics, it’s about being successful and it was important for us after the Dortmund game not to let up,” he said, referring to Bayern’s 1-0 win at their closest rivals on Tuesday.
Left-back Alphonso Davies, who also got on the scoresheet with the fifth goal, added: “After our game with Dortmund we wanted to go out and show the same attitude.”
France defender Pavard took centre stage when his scuffed shot led to Joergensen’s own goal after 15 minutes before he made it 2-0 just before the halfhour with a header which keeper Florian Kastenmeier could not keep out.
It was Lewandowski’s turn to shine as he capped a flowing move with a clinical finish from the heart of the penalty area in the 43rd minute after a flowing move through the middle.
The Poland international made it 4-0 five minutes after the break with another predatory finish, steering the ball in at the near post with a superb back-heel from Serge Gnabry’s low cross. Davies completed the rout two minutes later after weaving his way through three defenders and firing past Kastenmeier, who made several fine second-half saves to keep the score down.
Bayern became the first Bundesliga side to score 86 goals after 29 matches, breaking their own record of 84 in 1973/74.
The result left Fortuna in 16th place — the relegation playoff spot — with 27 points, one point behind Mainz 05 and two above Werder Bremen who have a game in hand. /