Lewandowski on course for record
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes Robert Lewandowski can break the 48-year-old Bundesliga record of 40 goals in one season, after the Polish striker continued his goalscoring hot streak with two goals against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern put a rocky week behind them by thrashing title rivals Dortmund 4-0 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, an ideal response to last week’s 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt that proved to be Niko Kovac’s final game in charge.
Lewandowski scored twice, with Serge Gnabry also on the scoresheet, while a Mats Hummels own goal against his former team sealed the rout.
The striker’s double takes his Bundesliga tally to 16 goals in 11 games while maintaining his streak of scoring in every league game this season.
In all competitions, Lewandowski has 23 goals from 17 games, leading Rummenigge to believe that Gerd Muller’s record could be in sight. “I thought Gerd’s record would last for eternity and never be broken, but I believe [Lewandowski] is the first who can really put it in danger,” Rummenigge said. “It is astounding that ‘Lewy’ keeps scoring one or two goals in every game.”
The Poland captain’s biggest obstacle could be his fitness, with Bayern’s interim manager Hansi Flick revealing how Lewandowski requires surgery on a groin injury.
“It is his decision when to have the operation,” Flick said. “He isn’t in any pain, but it is clear he needs surgery. I believe he is having such a run that, in his shoes, I would also have a good think about when to have it done. For me, he is the best striker in the world.
Bayern president Uli Hoeness said yesterday that Kovac was sacked because some of their players wanted him out.
“There were certainly elements within the team that wanted the coach gone,” revealed Hoeness without naming who, although Thomas Mueller had said he was unhappy to be repeatedly benched by Kovac. “That’s why the club leaders reacted accordingly.”
Surprise packages Borussia Monchengladbach yesterday defeated Werder Bremen 3-1 to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the table.
Ramy Bensebaini – who was sent-off late in the game – headed the opener after 20 minutes for the home side, with Patrick Herrmann then notching one in each half.
Leonardo Bittencourt scored Bremen’s consolation deep in injury-time.