Robert Lewandowski took another old record from Bayern Munich great Gerd Müller on Friday.
The Poland star scored his 43rd Bundesliga goal of the year to cap a 4-0 win for Bayern over Wolfsburg and eclipse the previous best mark for goals in a calendar year set in 1972 by “Der Bomber.”
Lewandowski, who broke Müller’s old record for goals in a season by scoring his 41st last May in the last minute of a 5-2 win over Augsburg, again left it late to score on Friday. He met Jamal Musiala’s cross acrobatically to grab the record in the 87th minute.
Wolfsburg's John Brooks, right, challenges Bayern's Robert Lewandowski during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (AP PhotoAndreas Schaad)
Thomas Müller – no relation to Gerd – celebrated his 400th Bundesliga game by scoring one goal and setting up another to help Bayern open a nine-point lead before the rest of the 17th round. Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sané also scored.
Müller got Bayern off to a flying start in the seventh minute when he tapped home the rebound after Koen Casteels stopped Serge Gnabry’s effort from range.
Wout Weghorst almost replied at the other end but Manuel Neuer was equal to the Dutch forward’s shot. Weghorst was to have another chance later despite Bayern’s domination of possession.
Wolfsburg's Maxence Lacroix, right, challenges Bayern's Robert Lewandowski during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (AP PhotoAndreas Schaad)
Lewandowski came closest with a header that was little trouble for Casteels to gather, but Bayern emerged with renewed vigor against the deep-sitting visitors after the break.
Müller set up Upamecano for the team’s second goal in the 57th, three minutes before Sané scored with a fine strike.
Gnabry did his best to set up Lewandowski, who fired over and was then thwarted by Casteels. When it was starting to look like he might finally have to just share a record with Gerd Müller, Lewandowski scored to claim it for himself.
Bayern's Thomas Mueller, right, celebrates with Bayern's Robert Lewandowski after scoring his sides first goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (AP PhotoAndreas Schaad)
The Poland star had already scored 18 times in the league this season – one more than the entire Wolfsburg team had – and he scored 23 goals in 20 previous Bundesliga games against Wolfsburg – more than against any other team.
Wolfsburg’s run of defeats stretched to seven games across all competitions.
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Wolfsburg's Sebastiaan Bornauw, right, challenges Bayern's Robert Lewandowski during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (AP PhotoAndreas Schaad)
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