Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller sets new Bundesliga assist record
Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller is no stranger to winning and he has now added another honour to his collection: he is the first player in Bundesliga history to provide 11 assists in the first half of a season.
Not only that, Müller has done so despite make just 11 league starts in 2019/20 - his lowest such tally at the halfway stage of a campaign since his debut year.
The 30-year-old reached the milestone number for Bayern on Matchday 17 when he teed up 18-year-old Joshua Zirkzee for his second late winner in a week in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, sending Bayern players and fans alike smiling into the winter break as the defending champions stayed within touching distance of leaders RB Leipzig.
For context, former Wolfsburg star Kevin de Bruyne holds the record for most assists in a full Bundesliga season with 19 in 2014/15, while Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho was the man with the magic wand in the top-flight last term with 14.
In addition to laying on goals for his teammates, Müller has scored two himself, making him Bayern's second-best player in terms of goal contributions this season: Robert Lewandowski (19 goals, two assists) is the only person with more.
It seems the arrival of Philippe Coutinho, a rival for a place in attacking midfield has brought out the best in Müller, just as the competition from James Rodriguez did in the previous two years, when he notched 12 (in 2018/19) and a personal-best of 16 in 2017/18.
Lewandowski has been the primary beneficiary of Müller's work, having found the net five times from his passes this season. And the prolific Pole is hugely appreciative of his teammate's efforts.
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"It's easier with Thomas next to me," Lewandowski said previously. "He helps me out a lot; we complement each other very well. Thomas is always heading towards the opposition goal, with a lot of movement.
"We always have one player more in the penalty area when he plays, I have more space and not always two or three opponents against me. Maybe we'll play together more often."
It is perhaps no surprise that Müller's flurry of assists in recent weeks has coincided with Bayern's return to form. Seven of his record-breaking 11 have come since Hansi Flick took charge of first-team matters for Der Klassiker with Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 11.
Watch: Müller's pair of assists in Bayern's thumping of Dortmund!
Bayern blew Dortmund away 4-0 with Müller feeding Serge Gnabry for their second, and then Lewandowski for their third. He made it four assists in two games away to Fortuna Düsseldorf the very next weekend.
Matchday 15 saw Werder Bremen travel to Munich and encounter a Coutinho-inspired Bayern side full of goals. The record champions scored six in total on the day, with the Müller-Lewandowski connection providing the fourth.
Now able to recharge the batteries over the winter break, and with 17 more games to come as Bayern look to defend their crown, you wouldn't want to bet against Müller securing another assist record before the season is out.
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