Yann Sommer: Goal record for Robert Lewandowski would be "icing on the cake"
Yann Sommer says that breaking the 40-goal single-season Bundesliga record would be the "icing on the cake" in Robert Lewandowski's career, but the Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper is determined that it won't happen this weekend.
With 36 league goals this season, Lewandowski has three games left to at least match the mark set by fellow Bayern Munich legend Gerd Müller in the 1971/72 campaign.
Lewandowski's next chance to add to his tally will come in a home match against seventh-placed Gladbach on Saturday, but Sommer hopes he can keep his side's European hopes alive by shutting out the Poland captain.
Watch: Sommer is hoping Gladbach finish the season strongly
"The record would be the icing on the cake for his incredible career," Sommer told Sport1. "He's been playing at a consistently high level for years and is a key player in a great team.
"He's a great finisher and an unpredictable one too. I'll have to be quick and make good decisions. I wouldn't begrudge him the record - just not this weekend."
Gladbach beat Bayern 3-2 earlier in the season - coming from 2-0 down after Lewandowski put the visitors in front on Matchday 15 - and Sommer has an admirable career total of six wins and two draws in 13 Bundesliga games against them.
Watch: Gladbach beat Bayern 3-2 in January 2021
Want more Bundesliga Action?
The Switzerland international, who is in his seventh season with the Foals, famously kept the current world player of the year at bay during a 3-0 success in Munich in October 2018.
The 32-year-old clearly appreciates having the opportunity to test himself against Lewandowksi, but he also told bundesliga.com recently that his side now "really back ourselves."
"I like playing against him - against all great strikers," Sommer told bundesliga.com. "They're just a great challenge as a goalkeeper - they push you to the limit. You have to be very focused. They're very clever.
"And as a person on the pitch, he's very grounded and has enormous quality."
Lewandowski, meanwhile, will be out to improve on what for him is a modest career record against Gladbach of five goals in 17 league matches.
Related news
Bundesliga 2 promotion race
Kiel and St. Pauli have a welcome cushion on the promotion play-off place, with Düsseldorf and Hamburg jockeying for position immediately below the top two...
Matchday 29 overview
HSV visit Magdeburg on Sunday aiming to keep in the top-three hunt at the same time as leaders St. Pauli host Elversberg looking to bounce back from defeat.
Can Bayern prolong title defence?
The record champions could be officially dethroned and even surrender second place, with Cologne the visitors to the Allianz Arena on Saturday.