When the ball enters the penalty area, he knows what to do. Often, he delivers with an ice-cold finish. Ahead of the 2021 The Best FIFA Football Awards on Monday, Robert Lewandowski made another strong case to be recognised with his hat-trick in FC Bayern's 4-0 away win over 1 FC Köln.
Only Gerd Müller has more goals
His record? "The numbers are already insane. I never thought I would score so many goals in the Bundesliga. With a bit of hindsight, maybe I can think about it a little longer and just be proud," the 33-year-old Pole said on Saturday. With his goals in the ninth, 62nd and 74th minute, he became the second player ever to hit 300 Bundesliga goals, following in the footsteps of Bayern legend Gerd Müller (365 goals). Lewy has needed a total of 369 games to reach the 300-goal mark, while Müller did it in just 350 games.
"We're happy and grateful that he plays for us. He is a machine in the box, he holds the ball up superbly and the way he finishes is special," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, summing up Lewandowski's strengths. After 19 Bundesliga games this season, Lewandowski now has 23 league goals to his name - this time last season, he had 24 and ended up with a record 41 goals for the season. How many will he end up with this time?
Tense glances in the direction of Zurich
First of all, people are looking forward to Zurich, where "The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021" awards ceremony will take place on Monday. Of course, Lewandowski is one of the red-hot favourites to scoop up the award there and can be sure that his team-mates are rooting for him. "For every footballer it's important when you win awards and titles both as a team and on a personal level. I would be very happy if he won, it would be well-deserved," said head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Nagelsmann heaps on more praise
Independent of that, however, he also had extra praise for his goal scorer: "Apart from the goals, he worked hard against Köln and was often in very good positions. It's one of his great qualities that he wants to, and can, initiate many attacks and then sprints into the box to wait for a cross or rebound."
Lewy knows exactly what he has to do in the penalty area.
Corentin Tolisso with an excellant return to the side:
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