22, May 2021
Football: Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski breaks Bundes Liga 49-year scoring record 0
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski said it felt like being in a “science fiction film” as he scored his 41st Bundesliga goal of the season on Saturday to break Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old German league record for a single campaign.
Lewandowski scored in the 90th minute of Bayern’s 5-2 home win over Augsburg having equalled Mueller’s record of 40, which was set in 1971/72, last weekend.
Lewandowski broke Mueller’s mark with a classic poacher’s effort, rounding the Augsburg goalkeeper to fire home having snapped up the rebound after Leroy Sane’s shot was parried just before the whistle.
“You wait for 90 minutes and then it comes in the last few seconds,” Lewandowski told Sky.
“It was like being in a science fiction film. I’ve lost my voice.
“I saw Leroy shoot for goal, I had to keep believing and luckily it came off.”
Lewandowski claimed the record having had his six previous shots all saved as Bayern were presented with the Bundesliga trophy after the final whistle for the ninth straight season
They finished the season 13 points clear in the table.
“I was a little bit disappointed to have not scored sooner, but sometimes such records have to be fought for,” added Lewandowski.
“I was patient and believed until the end. I thank my team, who share the record with me.”
It was the last game for Bayern head coach Hansi Flick, who will be replaced by Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann next season having won seven titles over the last 18 months.
At the other end of the table, Werder Bremen were relegated on the last day of the season after 40 years in Germany’s top flight.
Cologne’s 1-0 home win over bottom side Schalke meant automatic relegation for Bremen, who were thumped 4-2 at home to Moenchengladbach.
This is Bremen’s first relegation since 1979/80 before coming back up the following season.
Union Berlin qualified for the new Europa Conference League play-offs finishing seventh in the table with a shock 2-1 win over second-placed RB Leipzig.
Source: AFP
24, May 2021
Football: Aguero close to Barcelona deal, says Man City boss Guardiola 0
Sergio Aguero is close to agreeing a move to Barcelona that would unite him with fellow Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
City’s record goalscorer, who has spent a decade at the Etihad, scored a quickfire double in the champions’ 5-0 win over Everton in his final Premier League appearance for the club on Sunday.
The goals took his Premier League tally to 184 — the most by any player for a single club.
The 32-year-old forward is set to leave the Etihad as a free agent after Saturday’s Champions League final against Chelsea.
“Maybe I reveal a secret,” Guardiola told the BBC. “Maybe he is close to agreeing a deal for the club of my heart — for Barcelona.
“He is going to be playing alongside the best player of all time, Messi.”
If the move goes ahead it would be Aguero’s second spell in Spain — he made his name at Atletico Madrid before the move to Manchester in 2011.
Aguero’s final season at City was dogged by injury and a coronavirus infection but Guardiola believes the striker has a lot to offer the Catalan giants.
Barcelona had a disappointing season, finishing third in La Liga and falling in the last 16 of the Champions League.
“I’m pretty sure he is going to enjoy,” said Guardiola. “And maybe Barcelona are stronger and stronger with him on the pitch.”
Source: AFP