Staff Reporter.
Robert Lewandowski broke the record for most league goals in a calendar year as the champions Bayern Munich crushed Vfl Wolfsburg 4-0 on Friday to go into the winter break with a nine-point lead at the top of the standings.
Muller’s achievement of 42 Bundesliga goals in a year had stood since 1972.
Thomas Muller — no relation to Gerd — celebrated his 400th Bundesliga appearance with a goal and an assist in the win.
The win moves Bayern nine points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.
Lewandowski had already broken one of former Bayern Munich striker Muller’s 49-year-old league records in May after he scored in the last minute of the season to claim his 41st goal of the 2020-21 campaign.
Muller opened their account, tapping in on the rebound in the seventh minute after keeper Koen Casteels had palmed a Serge Gnabry shot into his path.
Leroy Sane added to the scoreline two minutes later with a curled shot into the top corner to put the game beyond 12th-placed Wolfsburg.
On 87 minutes Lewandowski, who missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi in November, wrote his name in the history books yet again by firing in from close range past goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Lewandowski has now scored 19 league goals, two more than the entire Wolfsburg team this season.
The Wolves drop to 12th place, three points above the relegation playoff spot.
“I am very satisfied with the way we played,” said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann. “It was a bit tougher in the first half when Wolfsburg were a bit more disciplined. We started well but then lost some possession.
“But we defended well and our second half was impressive with the way we were pressing extremely high. The result was deserved,” he added.
Bayern, chasing a record-extending 10th straight league crown, are on 43 points, with Borussia Dortmund, in second place on 34, travelling to Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
With 56 league goals at the halfway mark Bayern are also on track to break the record for most league goals in a Bundesliga season (101) set by Bayern in the 1971-72 campaign.
The Bundesliga will break for three weeks and then resume on Jan. 7.