Bayern prefer titles to records
Munich - Not only did FC Bayern München's 5-1 win over FC Schalke 04 provide another ominous demonstration of their superiority, it was also another record-breaking display from Pep Guardiola's troops.
Titles the priority
Scoring at least twice in their last 15 encounters and collecting a 15th straight win were both league best-marks that leave Bayern - with their 20-point cushion at the top of the table - untouchable on the domestic front.
"It was great fun today," said hat-trick hero Arjen Robben. "We played with so much passion. It was one of the best first halves I've ever experienced since I've been with Bayern. With so much tempo, so much aggression - Schalke couldn't even get into the game."
"In the end, it's not about records, but about titles," continued the flying Dutchman, who conceded that although nothing has yet been decided, it is going to take something extraordinary to halt Bayern in their tracks now. His coach Guardiola agreed: "We're a point further ahead at the top, so we're even closer to defending our title. Congratulations to my team."
Neuer's records
Still Bayern would no doubt be glad to add a few more records to their tally en route to a 24th league title. The Bavarians could become the first team to go an entire Bundesliga season unbeaten or score more goals than anybody else away from home (current record: 43 held by SV Werder Bremen). Manuel Neuer is also keen on setting a few personal bests, including those for the most consecutive clean sheets (nine) and minutes without conceding (884), both currently held by VfB Stuttgart and Timo Hildebrand.
That could explain the fury on Neuer's face when Rafinha gave his former club a hand by scoring an own goal on Saturday. "What was I supposed to do?" said the Brazilian to Munich daily Abendzeitung. "It's not like I did it on purpose." Solace could be taken in the fact that, for the 44th game in a row, Neuer had avoided defeat, equalling the record set by Franck Ribery earlier this season before injury sidelined him and allowed Neuer to catch up.
On their toes
At the final whistle, Neuer's frustration in conceding for the first time against his former club turned into compassion as he put an arm around the shoulder of his Schalke counterpart Ralf Fährmann. "It's only natural," said the Germany No1. "He played well against us and against Real Madrid, yet he's going home with a bad feeling all the same."
The opposite can be said of Bayern, who are now using the Bundesliga as a means of maintaining their level for other competitions. "If we drop off in the Bundesliga, then we're going to lack a few per cent in the Champions League," explained Toni Kroos, who replaced Thomas Müller in midfield - all part of Pep's rotation policy to keep Bayern fresh and ready in their quest for more records and, most importantly, more titles.
See Robben's hat-trick heroics for yourself on the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel:
