Bayern Munich produced a ruthless display at the Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday, thrashing St Pauli 5-0 to set an all-time Bundesliga season scoring record while stretching their lead at the top of the table to 12 points with just five games remaining.
The victory, combined with second-placed Borussia Dortmund’s 1-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, has left Bayern on 76 points and within touching distance of the title. The Bavarians are now chasing an unprecedented treble, with Champions League and German Cup commitments still to come.
The historic moment arrived in the ninth minute when Jamal Musiala headed home to draw level with Bayern’s own all-time record of 101 goals in a single Bundesliga season, set during the 1971-72 campaign. Two goals early in the second half from Leon Goretzka on 53 minutes and Michael Olise a minute later broke the record outright and put the result beyond any doubt.
Nicolas Jackson added a fourth in the 65th minute before Raphael Guerreiro completed the rout two minutes from time, rounding off a commanding afternoon’s work for Vincent Kompany’s side, who had rested several players including top scorer Harry Kane.
Musiala’s return to form will be particularly welcome, with the Germany international under pressure to build match sharpness ahead of the World Cup following a lengthy absence with a broken foot. “I felt very good today. I had better actions and scored a goal,” he said. “I’m taking every minute I can. My foot feels freer than a few weeks ago. I just need a bit more patience.”
Kompany was measured in his assessment, resisting the temptation to overstate the achievement. “St Pauli are a team that almost always defends very well and concedes few goals. They also have the ability to counter-attack, which in this stadium can be a cause for concern. What we did today is not something that should be taken for granted,” he said.
Bayern host Real Madrid next week in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Spain. They also face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on 22 April. A domestic title, European glory, and a cup run — Bayern are chasing all three.
