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For the ninth time in a row, Bayern were crowned the champions of Germany. They officially sealed the title when Borussia Dortmund beat second-placed RB Leipzig. They then celebrated winning the championship by thrashing Borussia M 6-0. Freiburg and up next for them.
Bayern have hit their target for the season, which is to win the domestic league. While they fell short on the European stage and in the domestic cup, they can take solace in the fact that they won’t end the season empty-handed. In nine years, a ninth domestic title takes their total tally to 31, making them the most successful club in Germany.
The Bavarians have done their job, but one of their own has some impending business to take care of before the season ends. Robert Lewandowski is currently hunting down Gerd Muller’s long-standing record of most goals scored in a single league season. Muller scored 40 goals in a solitary campaign back in the 1971/72 season. Currently, Lewandowski stands on 39 goals from 32 matches, with two more left to play. The Pole hit a hattrick in Bayern’s previous match against Borussia Monchengladbach, bringing him on the cusp of a historic milestone.
Lewandowski will hope to break Muller’s record when Bayern play SC Freiburg in their next league match. The forward scored one goal when the two teams met this season, in an eventual 2-1 win for Bayern. Nevertheless, Freiburg won’t be an easy team to break down. Christian Streich has made them one of the toughest opponents to play against. They will be looking to shock the recently crowned champions of Germany and take another step towards a potential qualification to Europe.
Key Players
Roland Sallai’s recent form saw him set a national record in Bundesliga, as well as being nominated for the league’s PotM award. Sallai scored once and assisted twice in Freiburg’s match against Schalke 04, making him the first-ever player from his country to contribute to three goals in one Bundesliga match. Overall, the Hungarian has enjoyed a positive season, which has seen him score eight goals and provide six assists. He is Freiburg’s second-highest goalscorer this campaign.
Sallai, with eight goals is Freiburg’s second-highest scorer this season – one behind Vincenzo Grifo. The winger has had a hand in 17 goals for his side this campaign, scoring nine and assisting eight. The former Hoffenheim and Gladbach man is Freigburg’s star player and one that coach Christian Streich trusts immensely. The Italian has repaid his manager’s faith all season and was even on target in Freigburg’s last match.
Robert Lewandowski has been in a class of his own all season. His impact can be measured by the fact that he has more than four times as many goals as Grifo. Remarkably, the Polish striker only has ten fewer goals this season than Freiburg’s total Bundesliga tally! With the title secure, the forward’s sights are firmly set on breaking Gerd Muller’s long-standing record of most goals in a single season. He needs one goal to match it and then another to surpass it.
18-year-old Jamal Musiala has been one of the breakthrough stars of the season. The German national has mostly deputized for his much-experienced teammates but has been brilliant when asked to step into their place. Musiala was one of the nominees for Bundesliga’s April Player of the Month award, which eventually he lost to Erling Haaland. He has scored six times in the league so far, and his brace against Wolfsburg recently made him the youngster Bayern player to score twice in a single match.
Prediction
It is difficult to predict anything other than a Bayern win in this match. The Bavarians did briefly look in danger of losing the top spot to RB Leipzig but were able to correct their results on the way to a ninth-straight league title. They have succumbed to a shock loss here and there this season – a recent reverse against Mainz was a particularly surprising one – but remain favorites in any Bundesliga match.
Bayern’s recent 6-0 win over Gladbach sets a precedent for this match. The Bavarians demolished their opponents despite securing the title before kick-off. They even had a man sent off during the game but didn’t allow the opponents as much as a sniff at their goal. Unsurprisingly, Lewandowski was among the goals again, netting a hattrick against Marco Rose’s side.
Given the recent form of Bayern and their hitman, it won’t be any surprise to see Freiburg succumb to a loss in this match. Freiburg have put in some good performances of late, which have seen them climb into the top half of the table. However, defeating Bayern seems like a task beyond their reach.
