Another Lewandowski milestone as Bayern end year 4-0 over Wolfsburg

Robert Lewandowski bettered the Bundesliga calendar year scoring record to 43 goals on Friday as runaway leaders Bayern Munich entered a short winter break with a 4-0 triumph over Wolfsburg.

Lewandowski volleyed the final goal into the roof of the net off Jamal Musiala in the 87th minute.

Thomas Mueller had opened the scoring in the seventh minute of his 400th top flight game before Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sane added the others after the break before Lewandowski reached his latest milestone.

Bayern are nine points clear at the top ahead of Borussia Dortmund who wrap up their first half of the season on Saturday at lowly Hertha Berlin.

Bayern got their 23rd victory in 25 unbeaten home games against Wolfsburg and finished 2021 with a record 116 league goals, shattering the previous mark of 101 from Cologne in 1977.

Wolfsburg meanwhile slumped to their seventh straight defeat in all competitions and in 12th are just three points away from the danger zone.

"I am very satisfied. The first half was tricky because Wolfsburg were disciplined. The second half was very impressive. The key was winning every ball in midfield," Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann told streaming portal DAZN.

Looking at Lewandowski's goal, he added: "I was extremely happy. Lewy had a good game."

Wolfsburg coach Florian Kohfeldt said: "It hurts because we didn't allow a lot in the first half. And then you get the second and right after the third. In the end the defeat is deserved."

Bayern wasted no time behind closed doors and were 1-0 up after seven minutes when Mueller tapped home after goalkeeper Koen Casteels had saved a long-range effort from Serge Gnabry.

Wout Weghorst was denied an equalizer shortly afterwards by Germany keeper Manuel Neuer and their fate was sealed in the 55th when Mueller chipped the ball to Upamecano to head in his first Bayern goal.

And another two minutes later it was 3-0 from Sane's stunning curling shot into the far left corner.

Lewandowski aimed high in the 66th and and had a shot saved by Casteels 10 minutes later but he finally got the record with three minutes left from short range.

He didn't leave it quite as late as in May when he bettered Mueller's single season record by one to 41 goals in the 90th minute of the final game against Augsburg.

The Polish marksman is on course towards similar figures with 19 goals this season, with Bayern on a record tally of 56 at the halfway mark of a season and expected to challenge their own league record of 101 from 1971-72.

Bayern start the second half of the season on January 7 against Borussia Moenchengladbach.