BUNDESLIGA
‘ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI HAS BEEN KEY TO BAYERN’S SUCCESS’
Lewandowski has managed to replicate and better that achievement - and Gnabry is not even an out-and-out striker. These are just a handful of players who have played their roles in getting Bayern to where they need to be, but one must not forget another key to the team’s success has been their solid defence, shepherded by the evergreen Manuel Neuer. The 36-year-old is set to break Oliver Kahn’s record for most victories as a shotstopper by the time the current campaign comes to a close, having already matched that during Bayern’s hard-fought 3-2 win over RB Leipzig on matchday 21. As things stand, it will take a collapse of epic proportions for Bayern Munich not to be on the winner’s podium this May. Die Roten are simply head and shoulders above the rest of the chasing pack and with everyone getting in on the action, it’s no shock that they are again the highest-scoring team in the league. A closely-contested title race would have been
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SOCCER360 MARCH • APRIL 2022
ABOVE: Robert Lewandowski was unlucky to miss out on the Ballon d’Or RIGHT: Ricardo Pepi is the most expensive MLS export to Europe BOTTOM LEFT: Union Berlin have been a breath of fresh air since arriving in the Bundesliga BOTTOM RIGHT: Anthony Modeste celebrating a goal for Cologne
exciting for rival fans and neutrals alike. Yet despite that being highly unlikely at this point, there’s still plenty to play for, including a spot in the Champions League. Before Bayern seized control of the table on matchday five, there was another team on top of the pile. Wolfsburg burst out of the gates and led the way, but that joy was short-lived. The team have gone from being potential dark horses in the title race to now barely hanging on to their top-flight status by the skin of their teeth, as they look to avoid being dragged down to join teams like Greuther Furth, Augsburg and Stuttgart in the dreaded relegation scrap. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund will again have to hope they will have better luck in the title race next season. Die Schwarzgelben, who finished in third last time around, are now firmly focused on securing Champions League football. Marco Rose’s side aren’t alone in this
