Berlin: Bayern Munich claimed two Bundesliga records on Friday as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben scored in their 2-1 comeback win at Mainz which left them 14 points clear. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern have conceded only four goals for the first half of the season to break their own joint record of seven from 2012/2013 which had matched Stuttgart’s previous best mark in the 2003/04 campaign.
With 14 wins from 17 league matches and three draws, unbeaten Bayern have taken 45 from a possible 51 points to break their own record of 44 points at the same stage last season when they won the title with a record seven matches to spare.“Of course, we are really happy with the win, but I do feel sorry for Mainz, they left everything out on the pitch and had deserved a point,” said Robben, who scored the 89th-minute winner and claimed his 101st goal for the Bavarians.
“We didn’t do so well in the first half and left a lot of holes in midfield, but compliments to the team for getting the win, which wasn’t easy.”With the Bundesliga set to pause for winter on Sunday, Bayern will finish the year at least 11 points clear and are on course to break more records in 2015.
The Bavarian giants claimed 25 Bundesliga records in 2013 when they won the treble of European, league and cup titles — the first German team to achieve the feat. Elkin Soto’s stunning first-half goal gave Mainz a shock lead, but his effort was cancelled out by a superb strike from Schweinsteiger before Robben’s late winner. Despite the result, this was a below-par display from injury-hit Bayern, who are on course to claim a third straight Bundesliga title.
With centre-back Mehdi Benatia ruled out with the groin strain he suffered in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Freiburg, Guardiola started Jerome Boateng and Dante in his back four. Teenager Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 19, who has said he wants to leave in January to get more game time, was given a rare start alongside Schweinsteiger in the defensive midfield.
Bayern’s defence was breached when Japan striker Shinji Okazaki freed Soto and the Colombia midfielder fired through Manuel Neuer’s legs on 21 minutes.
The Germany shot-stopper, who has been shortlisted for this year’s Ballon d’Or, was left red-faced, but the lead lasted all of three minutes. Germany captain Schweinsteiger curled home a superb free kick for his first goal of the season having only returned at the end of October after a knee injury. Mainz had their chances in the second-half, but Bayern claimed the win after a strong run from Franck Ribery saw the ball squared for Robben to score on 89 minutes.
