The Bundesliga is back from its month-long hiatus, but not much has changed.
Bayern Munich is 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table after beating Hamburg 2-1 on a Robert Lewandowski brace, his 16th and 17th of the season. The win means Bayern maintains its record this season of just one loss and one draw through 18 matches.
The double is a great sign for the Polish striker, who has been slowed through the halfway point of the season, with just two goals since the end of October before today’s haul.
“We could have played a little better but I’m satisfied,” Thomas Mueller said after the match. “We knew we weren’t at our best level but we knew we were at a level where we could compete and win the game. We’ll improve from game to game.”
It’s not all good news for the German leaders, however. With Mario Goetze, Franck Ribery, Medhi Benatia, Rafinha and Juan Bernat all currently injured, defender Jerome Boateng went off in the 56th minute with what the club confirmed as a groin injury, further depleting the squad ahead of their matchup with Juventus in the Champions League round of 16 in late February. Arjen Robben is just returning from his long-term injury, and will need game time to get back to full speed. The Dutchman saw nine minutes of action against Hamburg.