By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: FC Bayern Muenchen.
A giant of both the Bundesliga and Germany national team turns 40 tomorrow when FC Bayern München goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates his birthday.
Since his Bundesliga debut for FC Schalke 04 two decades ago, Neuer has won everything possible in football including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League – in both 2013 and 2020 – as well as a staggering 12 Bundesliga titles.
With seven matches left, the men from Munich are just four short of the all-time Bundesliga record of 101 goals in a single season, achieved by the FC Bayern team of 1971/72, at the time boasting world-class players Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier, Uli Hoeneß and Gerd Müller, who scored a then-record 40 goals.
Speaking of goals, Matchday 24 saw a bumper tally of 40 scored last weekend – the highest this season.
After RB Leipzig came flying out of the traps last Friday with a 5-0 demolition of TSG Hoffenheim, FC Bayern sent 1. FC Union Berlin packing with a 4-0 rout as Serge Gnabry grabbed two while Harry Kane chalked up his 31st Bundesliga goal this season.
To keep the quota high, 1. FC Köln vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach ended in a 3-3 draw, including a stunning goal by South Korea international Jens Castrop. You can check out his worldy in the Socials Watch section below. Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 also shared a point each in a six-goal thriller before Borussia Dortmund roared back from 2-0 down to seal a 3-2 home win over Hamburger SV on Saturday.
VfB Stuttgart put five past FC Augsburg last Sunday including a brace by Deniz Undav, who has scored in each of his last six Bundesliga games.
SV Werder Bremen earned a crucial 1-0 win in the relegation battle against VfL Wolfsburg thanks to a second-half goal by Justin Njinmah.