Lewandowski’s hunger for record sums up Bayern’s title triumph

The Bundesliga title was already wrapped up when Bayern Munich took to the pitch against Borussia Moenchengladbach. They crushed their opponents 6-0 with Robert Lewandowski moving three goals closer to an incredible record.

Berlin (dpa) – Bayern Munich showed the Bundesliga why no one has been able to surpass them over the last nine seasons – their hunger is just too great.

Instead of taking their foot of the gas with the Bundesliga title already in the bag, Bayern crushed Borussia Moenchengladbach 6-0 on Saturday with Robert Lewandowski netting a hat-trick.

That treble put him just one behind Gerd Mueller’s record of 40 goals in a Bundesliga season, set in 1972. With two games left the Pole looks well set to better the record despite being injured for much of April.

To score 39 goals in 27 appearances is staggering, especially with a player who is almost 33. He just gets better and better.

“That was a great game and a good time to show who the German champions are,” Lewandowski told Sky.

After the game Bayern donned T-shirts with the number 9, referring to their record-extending ninth straight Bundesliga title.

A few fireworks were let off outside the Allianz Arena but without fans inside, it was all a little low key. But that does not mean Bayern are now overly used to winning trophies – despite seven coming during Hansi Flick’s less-than-two seasons in charge.

The coach is stepping down and looks set to take over from Joachim Loew after the Euros. Flick, Loew’s assistant when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, and Bayern executives Oliver Kahn and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge all alluded to the move on Saturday.

The German Football Association is in crisis amid calls for president Fritz Keller to quit after a Nazi jibe at a colleague, but Flick’s appointment seems to be a matter of time.

Even without Flick, the Bayern juggernaut will keep on rolling with RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann at the wheel next term.

No other team seems ready to challenge the Bavarians, despite several players leaving this close season. A 10th straight league triumph next term – which would be a record in a major European league – seems highly likely.

“It is always a special feeling,” captain Manuel Neuer said of yet another title.

Thomas Mueller now looks almost certain to be recalled by Loew for the Euros such is his form. A goal and a Bundesliga-leading 17th assist helped slay Gladbach.

He summed up the club’s hunger by pointing out how lucky he feels to be a Bayern player, let alone anything else.

Mueller said: “When you are a little boy, you don’t think you’ll be playing in the first team at Bayern one day. You’re just happy when you get tickets to the stadium.”