Bayern Seeking Treble After Lewandowski Bags Bundesliga Goal Record

21st June 2020

At a spectator-free Allianz Arena, Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern the lead before Lewandowski scored twice before half-time to give him 33 league goals this season and 48 times in all competitions

Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Munich on June 16, 2020 in Bremen, northern Germany. PHOTO | AFP
Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Munich on June 16, 2020 in Bremen, northern Germany. PHOTO | AFP
SUMMARY
  • Bayern Munich are eyeing the treble this season after Robert Lewandowski claimed the record for the most goals scored by a foreigner in the Bundesliga as the champions swept past Freiburg 3-1 on Saturday
  • The Poland striker's tally beats the previous record of 31 goals set by Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2016/17 for Borussia Dortmund before he moved to present club Arsenal
  • They are hunting the treble as they face Leverkusen in the German Cup final on July 4 and are among the favourites for the Champions League, which resumes in August.

BERLIN, Germany- Bayern Munich are eyeing the treble this season after Robert Lewandowski claimed the record for the most goals scored by a foreigner in the Bundesliga as the champions swept past Freiburg 3-1 on Saturday, while Werder Bremen look set to be relegated after losing at Mainz.

Borussia Dortmund wrapped up second place with a 2-0 win at RB Leipzig.

At a spectator-free Allianz Arena, Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern the lead before Lewandowski scored twice before half-time to give him 33 league goals this season and 48 times in all competitions.

The Poland striker's tally beats the previous record of 31 goals set by Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2016/17 for Borussia Dortmund before he moved to present club Arsenal.

The pressure was off Bayern as they were crowned Bundesliga champions for the eighth consecutive season in midweek.

They are hunting the treble as they face Leverkusen in the German Cup final on July 4 and are among the favourites for the Champions League, which resumes in August.

"If you have confidence, that's a plus point you can underpin with victories," said head coach Hansi Flick after Bayern's 15th straight win.

"I hope we can keep it that way for a long time to come.

"We still have a lot to do. The interim goal is to be successful in the cup.

"And then there's another goal (the Champions League), where we will try to get as far as possible."

Flick rotated his squad with New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh given his first start after becoming the first player of Indian origin to appear in the Bundesliga last December.

At the foot of the table, Bremen are set to be relegated for the first time in 40 years after they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Mainz.

Forwards Robin Quaison and Jean-Paul Boetius handed the hosts a comfortable lead, before Japan striker Yuya Osako gave Bremen hope by making it 2-1 with half an hour left.

Swiss substitute Edimilson Fernandes settled the matter when he got in behind the Bremen defence and made it 3-1 on 85 minutes for Mainz, who will now stay up.

The result leaves Bremen second from bottom and two points from 16th place which triggers a relegation play-off.

To have any chance of staying up, Bremen must beat Cologne at home next weekend and hope 16th-placed Fortuna Duesseldorf, who drew 1-1 with Augsburg on Saturday, lose at mid-table Union Berlin.

Erling Braut Haaland scored twice to seal Dortmund's win against third-placed Leipzig and secure the Bundesliga runners-up spot.

Dortmund and Bayern have both qualified for next season's Champions League, but two out of Leipzig, Gladbach and Leverkusen can still join them.

Haaland now has 13 goals in 14 league games since joining from Red Bull Salzburg after he showed more lethal finishing from crosses by 17-year-old US midfielder Giovanni Reyna and then Julian Brandt.

Haaland has 44 goals in 39 games for Dortmund and Salzburg this season.

Germany striker Timo Werner, who joins Chelsea next month, failed to add to his 26 league goals, second only to Lewandowski.