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From Zlatan Ibrahimović to Luis Suárez, from Samuel Eto’o to David Villa, FC Barcelona have been blessed with a few of the biggest centre-forwards in soccer historical past. The newest legendary striker who’s making an impression on the membership is none aside from Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski burst onto the scene in Germany for Borussia Dortmund after which Bayern Munich, the place he would hyperlink up with present Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick.
In Lewandowski’s first season beneath Flick, he scored 55 targets and 10 assists in 47 appearances as Bayern took European soccer by storm. In doing so, he grew to become the second participant in historical past after Johan Cruyff to win a European treble, ending as prime scorer in all three competitions.
The next season would see him rack up 48 targets and 9 assists in 40 appearances and break Gerd Müller’s 49-year report for essentially the most targets in a single Bundesliga season (48).
He continued his red-hot type beneath Julian Nagelsmann by firing in 50 targets and seven assists in 46 appearances in 2021/22, earlier than deciding to depart Germany after a legendary 12-year spell.
Lewandowski traded Bavaria for Catalonia, becoming a member of Barcelona on a four-year deal for a price of €45 million, doubtlessly rising to €50 million with add-ons.
The fiery begin adopted by the dip
It didn’t take lengthy for him to make an impression, registering six targets in his first 5 league matches and turning into the primary Barcelona participant to attain over 30 targets in his debut season since Ronaldo in 1996/97.
All in all, Lewandowski gained the Pichichi award with 23 targets in 34 league matches, turning into the primary participant in Europe’s prime 5 leagues to complete as prime scorer in six consecutive seasons.
The 2023/24 season, nonetheless, would mark a slight decline in outcomes: after offering 33 targets and eight assists in 46 appearances in 2022/23, Lewandowski struggled and managed simply 26 targets and 9 assists in 49 appearances.
Lewandowski went by a dip in his second season at Barcelona. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
Barcelona followers started to wonder if they need to give new signing Vítor Roque an opportunity within the first workforce or take a bet on their up-and-coming La Masia teenager Marc Guiu. As a substitute, Roque was loaned out to Actual Betis while Guiu was bought to Chelsea.
Barcelona, in the meantime, had been capable of full simply two signings between Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. Víctor has chipped in 2 targets and 1 help in 259 minutes, however he has by no means been given the chance to problem Lewandowski for a beginning spot.
The resurgence beneath Hansi Flick
Barcelona appointed Flick in the summertime, a transfer that labored wonders for Lewandowski’s improvement.
The Polish striker scored 4 targets in his first 4 matches beneath Flick, discovering the again of the online with regularity and even grabbing a brace of their 4-0 beatdown of Actual Madrid in El Clasico.
Able to holding up the ball together with his again to aim, attracting opponents, releasing up house for his teammates, and placing his poaching abilities to good use, Lewandowski rapidly reminded followers of why he is without doubt one of the biggest strikers of the twenty first century.
Nonetheless, after bagging a brace of their 3-0 win in opposition to Brest, Lewandowski went by a little bit of a dry spell. He managed only one aim in his subsequent six matches – except a brace in opposition to fourth-tier UD Barbastro – earlier than chipping in with a aim and help of their 5-2 win in opposition to Actual Madrid within the Spanish Tremendous Cup.
Because of this victory in Saudi Arabia, Lewandowski was capable of get his mojo again and begin firing on all cylinders once more: he bagged a brace of their comeback win in opposition to Benfica earlier than grabbing a aim apiece of their subsequent three league matches vs. Valencia, Alavés and Sevilla.
Lewandowski is hitting his stride for the Blaugranas and exhibiting that he can nonetheless ship the products – even when that hasn’t fairly been the case on the worldwide degree.
Poland’s all-time main scorer and captain has scored only one aim in his final 4 matches (a penalty vs. Scotland), while he hasn’t scored a non-penalty aim for them since November 2023.
“There have been instances with the nationwide workforce the place he was unbelievable, however now, he’s discovering it arduous carrying the workforce, although he’s nonetheless scoring targets and main LaLiga’s prime scorers chart,” acknowledged Polish-born USMNT worldwide Janusz Michallik (h/t RG).
“Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless that informal fan who believes that Lewandowski goes to hold the Poland nationwide workforce, which clearly hasn’t been the case in a very long time,” added Michallik.
“Lewandowski wants the opposite gamers to place within the service and create probabilities for him, which isn’t taking place in the meanwhile.”
Not getting youthful however nonetheless going sturdy
Lewandowski has rediscovered his type beneath Flick. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
At practically 37 years outdated, there have been instances when Lewandowski has regarded his age.
Regardless of having per week’s relaxation, he was stored beneath wraps of their 1-1 draw at Getafe on January 18 and proved to be a passenger all through. He accomplished eight out of 11 passes, misplaced possession 11 instances, and gained simply two out of 9 floor duels.
The veteran striker spurned a golden alternative to revive Barcelona’s lead earlier than halftime, together with his miscued header crusing marginally extensive.
Typically, he appeared to be a fish out of water and was unable to make a distinction in opposition to a Getafe aspect that was all too comfy to take a seat again and defend deep.
He isn’t as self-sufficient of a striker as he as soon as was and desires Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to carve out probabilities for him to complete, he struggles to trace again and lead the press, and his declining velocity has confirmed to be a problem going up in opposition to high-pressing sides like Atalanta.
Unable to use the copious quantities of house left in behind the defence, Lewandowski registered only one shot vs. Atalanta (which was blocked) and did not make his mark earlier than coming off after 69 minutes for Ferran Torres.
Nonetheless, the actual fact stays that Lewandowski continues to be top-of-the-line strikers in Spain. He leads La Liga for aim contributions (21), Anticipated Objectives (19.3), Anticipated Objectives per 90 (0.99), Anticipated Objectives and Anticipated Assists per 90 (1.05) and Anticipated Objectives on Goal (19.4), while solely Endrick (1.00) is averaging extra Objectives per 90 than him (0.97).
Lewandowski could also be irritating at instances and squander gilt-edged probabilities – solely Kylian Mbappe (18) has missed extra massive probabilities than him (16) – however he’s nonetheless confirmed instrumental in Barcelona’s resurgence beneath Flick.
With a contract that’s set to run out in June 2026, Barcelona are going to need to decide quickly: ought to they promote him this summer season and attempt to splurge on an elite, younger centre-forward like Alexander Isak or Viktor Gyökeres? Or, ought to they renew his contract and concentrate on different urgent issues like a winger or a defensive midfielder?
Regardless of the answer could also be, it can’t be denied that Lewandowski has made a constructive impression each on and off the pitch, together with his annual wage set to scale back from €32 million to €26 million for the 2025/26 season, assuaging monetary strain and giving Barcelona some much-needed respiratory room within the switch market.
The Culés completed with the second-best report within the league part of the UEFA Champions League with 19 factors from 8 matches, while they’ve additionally booked their ticket to the Copa del Rey semifinals, the place they are going to face Atletico Madrid.
Having crushed Rayo Vallecano on Monday, they’ve leapfrogged Atleti and Actual Madrid to go from third place to first place in La Liga. Now, if they’re to go all the way in which in all of the competitions, they’re going to want an enormous efficiency from their Polish talisman.
After scoring in opposition to Rayo on Monday, Lewandowski sits atop the La Liga scoring chart with 20 targets and is on monitor to surpass Lionel Messi for essentially the most prime scorer awards in Europe’s prime 5 leagues with a report ninth Golden Boot.
