FC Bayern Munich can already become champions today with a win in Mainz. But the defending champion also has another goal – for his Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. Five games, five heads to look out for in the Saturday Bundesliga games.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI: The championship for Bayern is practically fixed, but a major sporting challenge remains: Can striker Robert Lewandowski achieve the Gerd Müller record of 40 goals in one season? The Pole is immediately in focus on his comeback in Mainz after a ligament injury and wants to keep scoring. He stands at 35 goals, four games remain. “Ohhhh, I don’t know if I can do it,” he said. “The short break makes it a question mark for me how things are going.” Coach Flick promises his super striker all the support he needs in the hunt for the record. Lewandowski scored five goals in the four games of the first half of the season against Mainz (2 goals), Gladbach (1), Freiburg (1) and Augsburg (1). One repetition would be enough to tie with Müller.
JADON SANCHO: In the summer, Borussia Dortmund did not let Jadon Sancho go despite a rumored 100 million offer from Manchester United. The 21-year-old didn’t let himself down, impressed despite a temporary hangover with 28 goals in 32 competitive games. The Englishman was absent from BVB for almost two months during the important phase of the season because of a torn muscle. In the 2-0 win against Union Berlin, he made a convincing half-hour comeback. Now there is even a place in the starting XI in Wolfsburg. “He made an excellent impression after being substituted on,” said coach Edin Terzic: “And if he plays like this and is so hardworking, he will help every team in the world.”
FLORIAN KOHFELDT: Relegation battle again: After the club’s record of six defeats in a row, Werder Bremen is under a lot of pressure at Union Berlin. Unlike many other clubs, Florian Kohfeldt doesn’t have to worry about his coaching job. Managing director Frank Baumann recently gave the coach verbal support. “It’s very good when someone gives you confidence,” said Kohfeldt. Nevertheless, with a view to the more restless environment, he also admitted: “The criticism that is justified is something that does not leave me indifferent.” Last year Bremen managed to stay in the class only in the relegation. In order not to tremble for so long again, points with the strong Berliners would be helpful.
ANDREJ KRAMARIC: The Croatian Vice World Champion can set or even surpass his goal record. The 29-year-old scored his number 15 and 16 goals in a 3-2 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach – and that in just 24 games. In the 2018/19 season he had a personal best of 17 goals. In the 156 Bundesliga games since the striker joined TSG from Leicester City in January 2016, he has scored 78 goals so far. Kramaric is considered one of the league’s most sought-after goal scorers. Despite his contract until 2022, his future in Kraichgau is uncertain.
AMIN YOUNES: With great performances, the midfielder played a major role in Eintracht Frankfurt’s sporting heights and thus played his way back into the national team. But since his comeback in the DFB jersey in mid-March, the 27-year-old has been plagued with adductor problems and has only been on short appearances recently. That reduces his chances of the European Championship, which Eintracht coach Adi Hütter does not challenge in the fight for the first entry into the Champions League. “I can’t take individual things into account. It’s about mutual success. Everyone has to stand behind,” he said. Most recently, Hütter regularly relied on a double lead with Daichi Kamada behind them. Because the Japanese is suffering from a painful finger injury, Younes could be in the starting line-up for the game in Leverkusen for the first time since the beginning of April.
dpa
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Stand: 24.04.2021, 07:36
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