bundesliga

Robert Lewandowski makes history with 40th Bundesliga goal of the season but Freiburg hold Bayern

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Robert Lewandowski became the first player in almost 50 years to score 40 Bundesliga goals in a single season as Bayern Munich played their part in an entertaining draw with Freiburg in Hansi Flick's final away game as coach.

Freiburg 2-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (pen. 26'), 1-1 Gulde (29'), 1-2 Sane (53'), 2-2 Günter (81')

With Bayern having wrapped up their ninth straight Bundesliga title last weekend, all eyes were on Lewandowski and his pursuit of Gerd Müller's long-standing goals record. The Bayern No.9 sent his first attempt of the contest uncharacteristically off target from 18 yards, but made no mistake from the penalty spot soon after. Following a VAR review for Lukas Kübler's challenge on Thomas Müller, Lewandowski waited for Mark Flekken to make his move before rolling in his record-equalling 40th goal of the campaign. The Poland striker paid tribute to Der Bomber Der Nation, rolling up his jersey to reveal a '4EVER GERD' t-shirt; Bayern paid their respects to their latter-day goal machine with a guard of honour along the visiting dugout. Still celebrating LewaGOALski's extraordinary feat, the champions were pegged back within three minutes as Manuel Gulde escaped the attentions of Niklas Süle to put away a Vincenzo Grifo's corner.

Leroy Sane activated his own stealth mode to restore Bayern's lead early in the second half. Having evaded three Freiburg shirts to set up Serge Gnabry for a disallowed effort one minute, Mr. Twinkle Toes turned in Müller's cross on the stretch the next. Freiburg went agonisingly close to delivering an instant response, but Ermedin Demirovic sent his close-range attempt into the side netting. Die Breisgauer continued to ask questions of the away defence, with Alexander Nübel - deputising for Manuel Neuer - twice called on to thwart Janik Haberer. Flekken followed suit with an incredible one-handed stop to deny Lewandowski, before gathering the 2020 FIFA Best Player's miscued follow-up. Christian Günter fired low and hard across Nübel's despairing dive to set up a grandstand finale in which Flekken foiled Lewandowski once again. The 32-year-old needs to score in Bayern's final-day meeting with Augsburg to set a new single-campaign Bundesliga record for goals.

Match stats

  • Lewandowski has scored his 40 goals this season in just 28 appearances. He has found the net 19 times in 18 games against Freiburg.
  • Sane netted his sixth Bundesliga goal of the season - it's the first time he's found the net in successive league games as a Bayern player.
  • Bayern have scored at least once in their last 34 Bundesliga away games in a row, breaking their own record set between 2012 and 2014.
  • Nübel made his first Bundesliga appearance since joining Bayern from Schalke last summer.
  • Gulde scored his second goal of the Bundesliga campaign - a personal best.
  • Lewandowski has scored 20 times in 16 appearances against Augsburg.

Watch: Lewandowski: "It hasn't sunk in yet"

Line-ups

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler (Jeong 72'), Lienhart, Gulde, Günter (c) - Sallai (Schmid 61'), Santamaria (Keitel 72'), Höfler, Grifo - Demirovic (Höler 55'), Petersen (Haberer 61')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Heintz, Kwon, Schlotterbeck
Out: -
Coach: Christian Streich  

Bayern: Nübel - Süle (Sarr 72'), Boateng, Hernandez (Roca 61'), Davies - Kimmich, Alaba - Sane (Coman 72'), Müller (c) (Tolisso 61'), Gnabry - Lewandowski
Unused subs: Neuer, Pavard, Martinez, Choupo-Moting, Musiala
Out: Costa (metatarsal), Goretzka (hamstring), Hoffmann (knee), Nianzou (suspended)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Watch: Lewandowski: "I'm sure he's proud of me"