BERLIN: Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski equalled the Bundesliga record of 40 goals in a season and Augsburg, Mainz 05 and Hertha Berlin all clinched survival in the penultimate round on Saturday.

Lewandowski converted an early penalty in Bayern’s 2-2 draw at Freiburg and the Poland forward matched Gerd Mueller’s record, scored over 34 games in 1971/72, in just 28 league fixtures this term. Bayern secured the title last weekend.

“It’s a huge honour for me and for the modern history of the Bundesliga,” Lewandowski told Sky.

Augsburg secured top-tier status with a 2-0 win over relegation rivals Werder Bremen, who dropped into the playoff place ahead of the last round. Augsburg moved five points clear of Bremen in the relegation zone.

Arminia Bielefeld moved a point above Bremen after drawing against Hoffenheim 1-1.

Both Bielefeld and Bremen can still be overtaken by Cologne, who are a point behind Bremen after battling to a scoreless draw at Hertha.

That was enough for Hertha to move to four points clear of the relegation zone, ensuring their survival after a season that didn’t go to plan. Hertha had been targeting European qualification.

Mainz are also safe despite not playing on Saturday. They cannot be caught in the Bundesliga even if they lose their last two games.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s hopes of Champions League qualification were dealt a blow after losing at last-placed Schalke 04 4-3.

US striker Matthew Hoppe, 20, scored what proved to be the decisive goal to seal the win for Schalke which could have profound implications in the top four.

It was just Schalke’s third win all season and it left Frankfurt fifth, a point behind German Cup winners Borussia Dortmund, who still have two games to play. The top four qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.

Bayer Leverkusen qualified for the Europa League after drawing with Union Berlin 1-1. Union capitalised on Borussia Moenchengladbach losing at home to Stuttgart 2-1 to move to seventh, which would secure qualification for the Conference League, UEFA’s new third-tier European competition.

Bayerns players, substitutes and team staff formed a guard of honour for Lewandowski to run through after he tied Mueller’s 49-year-old record with a penalty in the 26th minute in Freiburg.

As part of his penalty celebrations, the Poland striker lifted his match shirt to reveal a picture of Gerd Mueller over the text “4ever Gerd”.

“I would never have thought that this would happen. What Gerd Mueller did is incredible. Sharing the record with him makes me very, very proud,” Lewandowski added.

Freiburg declined to take part in the celebrations and drew level almost immediately when Manuel Gulde headed in at the near post from a corner on 29 minutes after slipping his marker.

Leroy Sane beat a host of defenders to set up Serge Gnabry after the break, but the goal was ruled out through VAR for offside. Sane shrugged off the decision to score a minute later. David Alaba’s long-range pass found Thomas Mueller in the area just moments later, he squared for Sane who hit home on 53 minutes.

Christian Guenter equalised with a fine individual goal for Freiburg in the 81st.

Lewandowski will have a chance to break the record in Bayerns final game against Augsburg next Saturday.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2021