Bundesliga News

Germany: Bundesliga
FT
6 - 0
(4 - 0)
FC Bayern
Gladbach
R. Lewandowski (2), T. Müller (23), R. Lewandowski (34), K. Coman (44), R. Lewandowski (66), T. Nianzou (75), L. Sané (86)

Flick & Sommer laud prolific Lewandowski, back him to break Muller's 1971/72 record

By Akhil Fisher   @akhil_fisher

Seventh placed Mönchengladbach visit Bayern in an encounter that will all but seal the Bundesliga title if the hosts win.

If 2nd placed Leipzig fail to win at 5th placed Dortmund in the afternoon kick-off, the title heads to Bavaria for the ninth consecutive season, even before the players step foot in the Allianz Arena.
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Photo: Hertha BSC/citypress
Ahead of the crucial match day, Bayern coach Hansi Flick & Gladbach shot-stopper Yann Sommer spoke of one certain marksman who is in line for a historic Bundesliga record.


Robert Lewandowski has had a fantastic charge of 36 goals in 26 appearances this season.

Flick called upon Lewandowski’s prowess to beat Gerd Muller’s 49 year old record of 40 goals in one season in the German top flight. If anyone can do it, it is the Polish marksman, according to the Bayern manager.

In his pre-match press conference (via ESPN), Flick said: "He is naturally focused on the record. But he knows how we tick, that we want to win first. He profits the most if we play good football."

"We are talking about a world class footballer here with enormous quality. He is unique, the best penalty box player in the past couple of years. Always consistent & scoring 30 plus goals," Flick added.

Bayern face SC Freiburg next, after Gladbach, and then see the season out with their last match against Augsburg. Lewandowski has three matches left to either tie or break the legendary record.


Speaking of which, Flick said: “He is all fired up for the record and we will see after those three games if he has achieved it."

Hansi Flick’s full pre-match press conference can be viewed here - https://fcbayern.com/fcbayerntv/en/videos/2021/01/05/re-live-flick-pre-gladbach-press-conference

Mönchengladbach No.1 Yann Sommer reflected Hansi Flick’s thoughts, as the shot-stopper said the record will be the ‘icing on the cake’ for the Poland captain.

Speaking to Sport1 (via bundesliga.com), Sommer said: “The record would be the icing on the cake for his incredible career. He's been playing at a consistently high level for years and is a key player in a great team.

I like playing against him - against all great strikers. They're clever players who pose a great challenge to goalkeepers - they push you to the limit. You have to be very focused.”

Lewandowski picked up a collateral ligament damage on his right knee during Poland’s World Cup qualifying campaign in March and missed four Bundesliga matches, delaying his record-scoring run.

"He's a great, unpredictable finisher with enormous quality. I'll have to be quick and make good decisions. I wouldn't begrudge him the record - just not this weekend," Sommer commented.

Lewandowski needs four goals in three games to match the 1972 Bundesliga record and go one further with five goals to break it.


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