Robert Lewandowski moved joint-second in the Bundesliga’s all-time top scorers list as Bayern Munich claimed a 3-1 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday.
The Pole matched Klaus Fischer’s tally of 268 goals as he joined Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry on the scoresheet in a comfortable win that extended the champions’ lead at the summit to five points.
Lewandowski now needs another 97 goals to match Bayern legend Gerd Muller’s incredible tally of 365.
Werder were given hope that they might put the champions under pressure when Ludwig Augustinsson produced the first shot on target of the match, cutting in before releasing a weak right-footed effort.
But it was all Bayern from there, with Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich signalling the visitors’ intent as they each fired just over the bar in quick succession.
And they got a deserved breakthrough with 22 minutes gone, Thomas Muller flicking on a Kimmich corner for Goretzka to powerfully head into the corner.
Gnabry missed a simple header of his own moments later, before hitting the post following an offside flag that might well have been overruled by VAR had the ball found the back of the net.
However, the forward would not be denied a goal, which came after Muller beautifully controlled a chipped pass with his chest and laid the ball on a plate in the box to make it 2-0 at half-time.
One interesting subplot from a one-sided game was Lewandowski’s search for the goal that would take him level with Fischer, which appeared set to elude him after he struck the post and crossbar in the second half.
But the former Borussia Dortmund forward evidenced his knack for being in the right place at the right time as the ball somewhat fortuitously fell to him after hitting Goretzka from a corner and he smashed it home.
He so nearly moved ahead of Fischer in the standings late on, hitting the woodwork for a third time after great control in the box, but that proved to be his last action as Hansi Flick made use of his bench in the closing stages.
There was still time, though, for the hosts to grab a consolation, Niclas Fullkrug following in for a tap-in after th visitors’ high line had been caught napping.