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Mario the unstoppable

Gomez: I’m certain I’ll keep on scoring

18.04.2011

Mario Gomez cut a relaxed and contented figure as he made his way through the Allianz Arena mixed zone on Sunday evening, his face bearing the look of a man who had completed a mission. For the fourth time this season, he had scored three goals in a game for Bayern. It really does appear that nothing can stop the deadly hitman at present, not even hastily and ill-considered questions from reporters.

Was he relieved at finally hitting the target again, a journalist asked. For an instant, Gomez looked perplexed at the bizarre enquiry, but then fired back his riposte: “Yeah, you know what, I’ve not scored for six months before this!”

Gomez has an answer to most problems right now. The sharp-shooter was at his most efficient against Leverkusen, scoring his three goals from precisely three shots. It all took just 18 minutes, and it was closely observed by Germany boss Joachim Löw. It was Mario’s first ‘pure’ hat-trick – all three goals in the same half, with no goal by any other player in between – in his Bundesliga career. “That's a terrific hat-trick, no question about it,” he said.

The facts emphasise the significance of the deed: it was the first time an FCB man had scored three in a half since 17 February 2008, when Luca Toni achieved the feat. “They were important goals, because they were against a team having a really good season,” Gomez observed. The striker now has 32 goals from 33 starts in all competitions this term. He also scored as a late sub in the DFB Cup first round meeting with Germania Windeck, so Mario’s remarkable strike-rate is as close as makes no difference to a goal a game.

Sending out a signal

The 25-year-old is now up to 22 goals in the league, and has moved back to the top of the scoring charts ahead of 20-goal Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cissé. “I’m certain I’ll keep on scoring in our remaining games,” he promised, with an eye on the honour of finishing top scorer this season, although he insisted the team took priority over any personal glory: “What matters is that we play in the Champions League next season. We’ve all understood the necessity of finishing third.”

Munich’s comfortable victory over the side in second sees them handily placed to achieve that goal, as Munich have leapfrogged Hannover to reclaim third spot. “We can be pleased with the way it was achieved. We’ve sent out a signal,” Gomez reasoned. But is second place still a possibility, he was asked? FCB are six points off Bayer with four games to play. “Let’s not get carried away,” the player replied, another pertinent riposte.

Credit: FC Bayern Munich (www.fcbayern.t-com.de)