Izuchukwu Okosi
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Robert Lewandowski on Friday night grabbed his 43rd Bundesliga goal of the year 2021 in Bayern Munich’s 4-0 drubbing of Wolfsburg which eclipsed the previous record held by legendary Gerd Muller which was set in 1972.
The record held by “Der Bomber” as Müller was affectionately known as seemed not likely to be replicated as his 42 goals in a calendar year stood for so many years.
Interestingly not only did Lewandowski break Müller’s record he also equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals stat from another league record set in 2013 at Real Madrid. Messi holds the overall record of 91 goals set in 2012.
On Friday, Lewandowski scored his 69th goal in the 2021 calendar year, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record set in 2013. Messi holds the overall record of 91 goals set in 2012.
Lewandowski met Jamal Musiala’s cross acrobatically to grab the record in the 87th minute.
Thomas Müller – no relation to Gerd – celebrated his 400th Bundesliga game by scoring one goal and setting up another to help Bayern open a nine-point lead before the rest of the 17th round. Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sané also scored.
Müller got Bayern off to a flying start in the seventh minute when he tapped home the rebound after Koen Casteels stopped Serge Gnabry’s effort from range.
Wout Weghorst almost replied at the other end but Manuel Neuer was equal to the Dutch forward’s shot. Weghorst was to have another chance later despite Bayern’s domination of possession.
Lewandowski came closest with a header that was little trouble for Casteels to gather, but Bayern emerged with renewed vigor against the deep-sitting visitors after the break.
Müller set up Upamecano for the team’s second goal in the 57th, three minutes before Sané scored with a fine strike.
Gnabry did his best to set up Lewandowski, who fired over and was then thwarted by Casteels. When it was starting to look like he might finally have to just share a record with Gerd Müller, Lewandowski scored to claim it for himself.
The Poland star had already scored 18 times in the league this season – one more than the entire Wolfsburg team had – and he scored 23 goals in 20 previous Bundesliga games against Wolfsburg – more than against any other team.
Wolfsburg’s run of defeats stretched to seven games across all competitions with Friday’s defeat.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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