Staff Reporter.
Robert Lewandowski has equalled Gerd Muller’s 49-year-old Bundesliga record for the most goals scored in a single campaign after he netted in Bayern Munich’s draw with SC Freiburg.
The striker has now scored 40 goals in 28 league games this season.
Muller averaged a goal every 77 minutes when he set the Bundesliga record in 1972 but Lewandowski did so with an average of a goal every 58 minutes.
He has netted in 18 of his past 19 Bundesliga appearances.
The only team during that run Lewandowski failed to score against was Hertha Berlin on 5 February.
Lewandowski celebrated the goal by lifting up his playing top to show a T-shirt underneath with Muller’s face on and the words “4ever Gerd”.
His team-mates then quickly formed a guard of honour near the touchline opposite staff members while Lewandowski celebrated with his arms outstretched.
The Poland international is the first player to reach 40 goals in a single season in one of Europe’s top five leagues since Luis Suarez for Barcelona in 2015-2016.
Lewandowski’s record-equalling goal came from the spot in the 26th minute to put champions Bayern ahead before SC Freiburg defender Manuel Gulde equalised three minutes later.
Ex-Manchester City winger Leroy Sane restored Bayern’s lead in the second half but defender Christian Gunter made it 2-2. Lewandowski missed a golden opportunity to break the record late on.
Bayern were crowned champions of Germany for the ninth straight season after Lewandowski’s hat-trick helped them thrash Borussia Monchengladbach last week.
They have scored at least once in all their Bundesliga away matches this season, setting a new league record by scoring in 34 consecutive games on the road.
“Almost half a century after the unique Gerd Muller set the record, Robert Lewandowski equalled it today,” the DFL said. “Congratulations for this outstanding and historic performance.”
Aaaand breathe. ?
Just a regular crazy Saturday in the #Bundesliga… ?? pic.twitter.com/NFMayRgnaR
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 15, 2021
Lewandowski can still break the record in the final league game of the season at home to FC Augsburg on Saturday, 22 May.