SHARE
COPY LINK
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

GUARDIOLA

Lewandowski nets a hat trick in Zagreb romp

Pep Guardiola said Bayern Munich will toast their 5-0 rout of Dinamo Zagreb during Wednesday's annual visit to Oktoberfest after Robert Lewandowski's phenomenal goal-scoring run continued with a hat-trick.

Lewandowski nets a hat trick in Zagreb romp
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. Photo: DPA

Bayern romped to the top of Group F in the Champions League as Dinamo's 45-match unbeaten run was halted in emphatic fashion.

Lewandowski again ran riot at the Allianz Arena as Mario Goetze and Douglas Costa also netted to put Bayern top of their group following their 3-0 win at Olympiakos a fortnight ago before they face Arsenal away in three weeks.

Poland hot-shot Lewandowski has now scored 10 goals in his last three games after netting five in just nine spectacular minutes of Bayern's 5-1 hammering of Wolfsburg last Tuesday before claiming two more in Saturday's 3-0 win at Mainz.

Bayern host Borussia Dortmund on Sunday in a top-of-the table clash in the Bundesliga, but their Spanish head coach said they can enjoy a few beers at Munich's annual bumper beer festival before focusing on their next match.

The Spaniard put Lewandowski's success down to the width on Bayern's game from fleet-footed wingers Costa and Kingsley Coman.

“That was a good team performance over the whole 90 minutes,” said Guardiola.

“Six points means we're on the right path. Tomorrow we're off to Oktoberfest, after that we'll have time to think about Dortmund.

“With Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman our playing style is much better, we can play out wide more and the strikers have more chances.

“Even our counter-attack game was very good.”

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said the game was over after 30 minutes as the hosts took a 4-0 lead against a woeful Zagreb team, whose defence capitulated in their first defeat since November 2014.

“We played in a very concentrated fashion from the start and when you take your goal chances, the game was over after 30 minutes,” said Lahm.

Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's top scorer, will be hoping to add to his tally against ex-club Dortmund on Sunday.

“I am happy to get three more goals, but the main thing is that we won 5-0,” said Lewandowski.

“It doesn't matter how many goals I score as long as we keep picking up points.

“The whole team played well, which creates opportunities for me.”

But with 10 goals in eight days, Lewandowski is in incredible form.

“He's had an unbelievable week behind him,” admitted Lahm, who joked that he expects at least three goals from Lewandowski per game from now on.

Olympiakos' shock 3-2 win at bottom side Arsenal means Zagreb drop to third in the group and Dinamo's coach Zoran Mamic admitted his side was outplayed.

“Bayern have showed how strong they are and we caught them on a very good day, they were better than us in all departments,” said Mamic as his side suffered their heaviest away defeat in Europe.

“The difference in quality was huge and we were brutally punished.

“They have a lot of good players, they are all fast, and it's hard to commit tactical fouls against them.

“They deserved to win by that margin.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

INDEPENDENCE

Guardiola defends Catalonia political symbol

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola defended his decision to wear a yellow ribbon in support of jailed Catalan independence leaders after his side beat Arsenal 3-0 to win the League Cup final on Sunday.

Guardiola defends Catalonia political symbol
Photo: AFP

The Football Association on Friday charged Guardiola, saying the symbol sported by the former Barcelona boss on his jacket broke its rules.    

“Pep Guardiola has been charged for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of the FA's kit and advertising regulations,” the FA statement said.

“He has until 6:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Monday 5 March 2018 to respond to the charge.”

READ: English FA charges Pep Guardiola over Catalonia political symbol

Following events last year surrounding Catalonia's bid to break away from Spain, which included a referendum and a proclamation of independence, both deemed illegal, the authorities jailed several leaders of the movement.

“If I broke the rules I accept the fine… so I am a human being,” said Catalonia-born Guardiola, who wore a yellow ribbon on his grey jumper in the post-match press conference at Wembley.

“Before I'm a manager I'm a human being, so I'm a person. So I think England knows very well what it means.   

“You did the Brexit, let the people give an opinion, you allow to Scotland to make a referendum about if you want to stay or not so and after people vote. That is what they ask.”

“Everybody's innocent until the judge proves you are guilty,” he added, saying charges of rebellion and sedition were strong.    

“It is always with me, will always be with me until the last because I think it's not about politicians, it's about democracy,” added Guardiola, who said he was grateful for a campaign to hand out ribbons to City fans.    

The City manager in December explained his stance in response to comments from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who questioned whether the ribbon was within the rules and claimed he would not be allowed to do a similar thing.

The League Cup final victory gave Guardiola his first trophy as City boss but they are almost certain to win the Premier League and are well-placed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.