Bayern break Bundesliga goals record with 5
FC Bayern defeated St. Pauli 5-0 to extend their lead in the Bundesliga to 12 points. The victory also saw Bayern break the Bundesliga’s single-season scoring record, taking their tally to 105 goals this campaign.
Jamal Musiala handed Bayern an early lead, while Leon Goretzka, Michael Olise, Nicolas Jackson and Raphael Guerreiro scored after the break.
Bayern started with Manuel Neuer in goal, and Konrad Laimer, Minjae Kim, Hiroki Ito and Tom Bischof forming the back four. Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka anchored the midfield, alongside Olise, Musiala and Guerreiro, with Jackson leading the line. Josip Stanisic, Jonathan Tah, Alphonso Davies, Luis Díaz and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye replaced Laimer, Ito, Kimmich, Olise and Musiala in the second half, Bayern Munich reported.
Bayern were dominant throughout and took an early lead when Laimer’s cross found Musiala, who headed home. It was Bayern’s 101st goal of the campaign, equalling the Bundesliga record from the 1971/72 season. Jackson’s deflected shot struck the bar before Olise fired wide from 15 yards as the Bavarians pushed for more.
Kimmich soon intercepted a pass and set up Guerreiro, who flicked it into the path of Musiala, but his effort came off the inside of the post.
Kim made a crucial block to deny Mathias Pereira Lage, while Musiala miscued a header and Laimer fired wide as Bayern went into the break with a one-goal lead.
The pattern continued after the restart, although Andreas Hountondji soon tested Neuer. The goal record was finally broken when Kimmich’s free-kick was flicked on and Goretzka volleyed home Bayern’s 102nd goal of the league season.
Bayern’s second goal opened the floodgates, and they all but sealed the game less than a minute later when Goretzka intercepted a pass and set up Olise, who surged through the middle and found the bottom-left corner.
Díaz saw an effort blocked, but Bayern added a fourth when they won possession and Musiala set up Jackson to slot home. Vincent Kompany’s side made it five in the closing stages, with Jackson winning the ball and assisting Guerreiro, who scored Bayern’s 105th goal of the season. Goretzka appeared to have added another in stoppage time, but the effort was ruled out for offside following a review.
The win takes Bayern to 76 points, 12 clear of Borussia Dortmund with five matches remaining. Kompany’s side will be back in action on Wednesday when they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
–IANS
