The tie that nobody cares

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Robert Lewandowski picks up pats

Photo: Tom Weller / dpa

In the end, not much was missing to break the record in the penultimate game of the season.

In the last ten minutes of the game between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern München, goalkeeper Mark Flekken prevented Robert Lewandowski from not only equalizing Gerd Müller's record, but also from setting a new one.

Last year's world footballer appeared three times in front of Flekken.

Once with space for your head, twice with your right foot relatively unrestricted.

Lewandowski failed every time.

His 41st goal of the season did not want to fall.

"In the end you saw that he was only human," smirked teammate Thomas Müller at Sky.

"This 41st goal is apparently something special." Lewandowski admitted: "I should have scored at least one more goal."

But the afternoon with the 2-2 at the sports club was too historic to be moped up.

With his penalty, Lewandowski drew level with Gerd Müller's goal record.

Like Müller in the 1971/1972 season, Lewandowski has now also scored 40 goals in a Bundesliga season.

After a knee injury at the end of March, Lewandowski had missed four games, the record, believed to be safe, seemed to be in danger.

But already on his comeback in Mainz he scored again, then three times against Gladbach and on Saturday afternoon against Freiburg.

Lewandowski needed less than 30 games for his 40 goals.

It was his 276th goal in his 349th Bundesliga game.

Lewandowski scored one goal every 90 minutes on average.

Exceptional values ​​from an exceptional footballer.

The recognition was correspondingly high: Bavaria's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gave a standing ovation in the stands, while national coach Joachim Löw clapped his hands behind him.

Teammates, supervisors and coaches stood on the pitch.

After the game, his teammates loved him, and the Freiburg team patted him on the shoulder.

"At the moment Robert is the best striker in the world"

Joachim Löw told Sport1 after the game: “It's impressive to score such a number of goals.

Nowadays it's even more difficult than it used to be. "And Bayern coach Hansi Flick said:" At the moment Robert is the best striker in the world. "

In the constant rain of Breisgau, however, Lewandowski did nothing unusual for the time being.

The Polish international ran across the pitch.

He stalked through the defensive lines of the well-standing Freiburg.

He observed the attack efforts of his colleagues.

A laugh here, a saying there.

Lewandowski corrected and directed, let himself fall and pushed dynamically into the open space.

There was only one thing he didn't do: give the impression of someone who is out to bend and break to break a record that had long been considered unattainable.

Despite the huge pressure of expectation, Lewandowski exuded composure.

And as for years he did not let himself be disturbed.

And waited for his chance.

The presented itself on the silver platter after referee Florian Badstübner punished a foul on Thomas Müller with a penalty for the guests with the help of the video evidence.

Lewandowski delayed, loaded Flekken and hit the right corner.

“It's a great honor for me.

I am very, very proud.

I never thought I could do it.

I need a little more time to be able to believe that, ”said Lewandowski at Sky.

Lewandowski's goal was his 19th goal in the past 18 games against Freiburg. And it was the first goal in the last Bundesliga game in the Black Forest Stadium. Freiburg has played here since 1955, and next season they will move to their new venue on the other side of town. This ends a curiosity: the space in the Black Forest Stadium is five meters too short. Here you can only kick with DFL special permission. It also has a gradient - the height difference between the two gates is one meter. Lewandowski never bothered.

In a lively game it went back and forth to Lewandowski's goal. Manuel Gulde equalized for the hosts with a header after just under half an hour. After the break, Leroy Sané brought Bayern back into the lead. The last goal of the game did not belong to Lewandowski this time, as is so often the case. He fell for the SC, over the so strong left side with Vincenzo Grifo and goal scorer Christian Günter.

In a turbulent final phase, everything was actually as painted for Lewandowski's 41st goal.

But Flekken held and Lewandowski was not allowed to overtake Gerd Müller.

After the game, Freiburg coach Christian Streich was certain that Lewandowski would surpass Müller's record on the last matchday next weekend.

Postponed, not canceled.

"Of course I'll try to score at least one more goal," said Lewandowski.

It would be the grand finale of a great season.