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Bayern Munich ended 2021 with a resounding 4-0 rout of Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Thomas Muller, Dayot Upamecano, Leroy Sane and Robert Lewandowski scored to put the champions nine points clear at the top.
The Raumdeuter opened Bayern Munich's account in the seventh minute, although the opening period was largely even. Julian Nagelsmann's side then upped the ante after the break. They scored three more to comfortably seal the game, extending their winning run in the league to five games.
The Wolves, meanwhile, lost for the fifth top-flight game in a row. They seem to be in a perpetual free-fall, dropping from fourth at the start of November to 12th heading into the winter break.
On that note, here are five key stats from the game:
#5 Wolfsburg stand no chance at Allianz Arena
With this rout, Bayern are now 25 games unbeaten against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena (23 wins and two draws). No other side in Bundesliga history has hosted a single opponent so often without losing.
It also marked the 27th consecutive time in the league that the Bavarians scored against Wolfsburg since a goalless draw in May 2008. During this period, the champions have scored 75 times, averaging nearly three every game.
Only against MSV Duisberg do Bayern have a similar scoring streak, netting in 27 consecutive games between 1973 and 1997.
#4 Bayern Munich record most league wins in a calendar year since 2013
Bayern ended 2021 with 29 league wins from 38 games, while losing only thrice - a remarkable record indeed!
It is their best winning tally in the league in a calendar year since 2013, when Bayern themselves won 30 times - a Bundesliga record. That was the year the Bavarians lifted their first continental treble before ushering in the Pep Guardiola-era in the second half of the year.
Bayern Munich may have fallen agonisingly short of matching their own record, but they put together another year of imperious domination.
#3 A century of Bayern Munich caps for Benjamin Pavard
Last night, Benjamin Pavard made his 100th appearance for Bayern Munich, which is impressive, as he joined the club only two years ago. A FIFA World Cup winner with France in 2018, the full-back arrived at the Allianz Arena from VfB Stuttgart the next summer, and hasn't looked back ever since.
Pavard has been a mainstay in Bayern Munich's set-up, contributing 16 goals (scoring 5 and assisting 11). The Frenchman has operated from various positions in defence and midfield, and excelled every time, making him a bang for their buck.
#2 Thomas Muller creates record on 400th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern Munich
As Pavard celebrated his 100th, Thomas Muller earned his 400th cap in the Bundesliga, marking the occasion with a goal and an assist. That assist was his 13th of the league season, extending his record for most in the first half of a Bundesliga campaign.
He also assisted for the 13th time against the Wolves. That's the most Muller has managed against a single opposition after only Werder Bremen (19), Stuttgart (15) and Hamburger (14).
The goal he struck against Wolfburg was also his 13th against them. That makes Wolfsburg his joint-favourite opposition in terms of goals scored along with Werder Bremen.
#1 Robert Lewandowski beats Gerd Muller's record
Robert Lewandowski huffed and puffed but managed to get on the scoresheet in the game late on for his 19th strike of the league campaign. In the process, he surpassed Gerd Muller's record of 42 Bundesliga goals in a calendar year.
The Bayern Munich man's remarkable tally this year includes four hat-tricks, against Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Monchengladbach and Hertha Berlin.
In all competitions, Lewandowski has scored 69 goals this year. That's the joint-second most by a player this century for club and country, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (2013). Only Lionel Messi (91 in 2012) has scored more.
