Bayern striker ‘fitter than ever’ as Bundesliga kicks off

Bayern Munich strike arsenal Robert Lewandowski has professed his fitness ahead of Sunday’s crunch Bundesliga clash at FC Union Berlin. The 31-year-old is enjoying his best season after netting 25 goals in 23 league games and is on course to better his 30-goal haul from the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons.

Read: Ronaldinho nearing 70 days & facing 5 years as legal woes persist!

The league’s top-scorer has used the time since the coronavirus-imposed break in football in mid-March to improve his overall fitness after undergoing groin surgery in December. “I feel better than ever before because I was able to work hard on my physical fitness for the last two months,” said Lewandowski.

FC Bayern News: Robert Lewandowski macht nach Leisten-OP ...
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has declared he is fully fit and primed to resume the season with the German giants in their first outing since mid-March (Image: Sourced).

The Poland captain sent records tumbling by scoring in each of the first 11 league games this season and is now taking lessons from ex-Germany striker Klose, who has joined the ranks at his former playing club on a year-long contract. “He was a great player and I know that he can help us with his experience and skills,” said Lewandowski. “You can learn something new from any coach to become a better player.”

Expected delayed start a thing of the past

Germany was expected to see a further delay in a restart to the season after the entire team of second-tier Dynamo Dresden were placed in a two-week quarantine following two positive coronavirus tests last week. But it appears that will not be spoiling the fanfare with the Bundesliga now set to become the first top European league to return this weekend, with matches to be played behind closed doors, amid the pandemic which has claimed the lives of 8 000 people from the 175 699 positive cases the country has recorded.

Bayern head to Berlin with a four-point lead at the top of the table while mid-table Union have beaten previous league leaders Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach this season. Bayern head coach Hansi Flick said he expects a tough match as German football tackles a new normal, despite the uncertainty that his side has the match fitness for the full 90 minutes of play.

They’re a team with a great mentality. We will face an aggressive team that takes the direct route to goal,” Flick said of Union. “We need to stand up and be counted. We can’t get a result just through the quality of our football. We have to show our mentality and take on challenges.”