Bayern Munich beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-0 on Friday to go into the Winter break with a nine-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga table. Robert Lewandowski established the record for most league goals in a calendar year.
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With three minutes remaining, Lewandowski completed off the onslaught by volleying in his 43rd goal of the season, surpassing Gerd Muller's 42-goal run from 1972.
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With a goal and an assist in the victory, Thomas Muller (no connection to Gerd) marked his 400th Bundesliga appearance.
"I'm extremely happy with how we performed," Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann remarked. "It was a little more difficult in the first half when Wolfsburg was a little more disciplined." We got off to a good start, but then lost some control.
"However, we defended effectively, and the manner we pressed incredibly high in the second half was outstanding." "The outcome was well-deserved," he continued.
Muller gave them the lead in the seventh minute, thumping in a rebound after keeper Koen Casteels had palmed a Serge Gnabry shot into his path.
He then set up Dayot Upamecano for their second goal with a beautiful chip in the 57th minute, before Leroy Sane put the game to bed two minutes later with a fantastic curling drive into the upper far corner.
After missing out on the world player of the year title to Lionel Messi, Lewandowski was anxious to conclude the year on a high, but he first blasted over the bar in the 66th minute and was then stopped at point-blank range by Casteels' excellent goalkeeping.
But, in the 87th minute, he scored from close range to deliver toothless Wolfsburg their fourth successive league loss and their seventh consecutive defeat in all competitions.
This season, Lewandowski has scored 19 league goals, two more than the whole Wolfsburg club.
The Wolves are now in 12th position, three points clear of the relegation playoff zone.
Bayern Munich leads the Bundesliga with 43 points, while Borussia Dortmund is in second place with 34 points and travels to Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Bayern are also on course to beat Bayern's record for most league goals in a Bundesliga season (101) established in the 1971-72 season.
The Bundesliga will take a three-week break before returning on January 7.