bundesliga

Bayern Munich goal machine Robert Lewandowski makes more history in routine Bremen win

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Robert Lewandowski moved level second with Klaus Fischer in the Bundesliga's all-time scoring charts as Bayern Munich consolidated their place at the top of the standings with a comfortable win at Werder Bremen.

Werder Bremen 1-3 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Goretzka (22'), 0-2 Gnabry (35'), 0-3 Lewandowski (67'), 1-3 Füllkrug (86')

Manuel Neuer had his palms warmed by Ludwig Augustinsson in the early stages, but was a virtual spectator from the 10th minute onwards as Bayern assumed complete control. Serge Gnabry pinged over from 18 yards and Alphonso Davies fizzed an inviting ball across goal, before Leon Goretzka met Müller's flick-on from a Joshua Kimmich corner to give the league leaders a deserved lead. The chances were coming thick and fast as Müller drove wide and Gnabry headed over, with Bremen effectively hemmed inside their own half. Gnabry made his next attempt stick, the Germany international finishing off a superb move instigated by Kimmich's clipped pass from deep and helped on by Müller for the ex-Bremen forward to slam past Jiri Pavlenka. Augustinsson provided the Bremen defence with a rare moment of respite late in the first period, but his near-post cross was headed clear by Jerome Boateng.

It remained one-way traffic after the restart as Lewandowski sent a header against the woodwork. Müller carved out another promising opening for the Bayern No.9 moments later, but Pavlenka blocked his initial effort and pushed the follow-up onto the angle of post and bar. Pavlenka was at it again with a spectacular diving save to thwart Lewandowski's downward header, only for the Bundesliga's record non-German scorer to get his goal - the Pole's 268th in 345 Bundesliga appearances - from the ensuing corner, Goretzka's knock-down falling his way off the unwitting Augustinsson. Lewandowski struck the woodwork once again in the closing stages, before making way with 11 minutes of normal time remaining - his place in the annals set in stone. Bremen substitute Niclas Füllkrug netted late on to blot Bayern's copybook, the defending champions nevertheless moving a temporary five points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig.

Match stats

  • No player has scored so many goals as Lewandowski's 32 after 25 Bundesliga matches. Gerd Müller held the previous record at 29 (1971/72 - when he ended the campaign with 40).
  • Lewandowski has now scored against 16 of the Bundesliga's 17 clubs in 2020/21 - also a record. He needs a goal against Leipzig to complete the set.
  • The record champions have netted at least once in their last 59 competitive matches. The last time they fired a blank was on 9 February 2020, in a goalless draw with Leipzig. Their 74 goals scored at this stage is a joint-record.
  • Goretzka has scored in consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time this season.
  • Gnabry has scored four goals across his last five Bundesliga appearances - as many in his previous 16.
  • Kimmich made his 250th competitive appearance for Bayern.

Watch: Goretzka: "Lewandowski makes our lives easier"

Line-ups

Bremen: Pavlenka - Groß, Toprak, Moisander - Gebre Selassie (c) (Agu 63'), Eggestein (Bittencourt 63'), Möhwald (Veljkovic 76'), Augustinsson (Dinkci 89') - Schmid (Füllkrug 63'), Rashica - Sargent
Unused subs: Dos Santos Haesler, Osako, Selke, Mbom
Out: Friedl (suspended), Plogmann (knee), Zetterer (elbow)
Coach:
 Florian Kohfeldt

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Boateng, Hernandez, Davies (Sarr 84') - Kimmich (Roca 79'), Goretzka - Gnabry (Musiala 79'), Müller, Coman (Sane 79') - Lewandowski (Choupo-Moting 79')
Unused subs: Nübel, Süle, Martinez, Dantas
Out: Alaba (muscular), Costa (metatarsal), Hoffmann (knee), Nianzou (thigh), Tolisso (thigh)
Coach: Hansi Flick 

Watch: Sargent: "I'm glad my hard work is paying off"