A blocked team. An empty team. But, above all, a dry team for which goals are very expensive. Because he doesn't score enough and because the starting forwards that Barça had in Hamburg cost him money that he didn't have to try to get the success counter going again. However, in the end what is remembered about the League won last season is that it was 1-0. Against Shakhtar, not even that. For Robert Lewandowski (45 million fixed plus 5 in variables), Raphinha (58 plus 7) and Ferran Torres (55 plus 10) Joan Laporta's board invested 158 million plus 22 in variables.
An eye of the face. But, except for the Pole in his first months, none of the three has met expectations. Worth a piece of information. In the last four games, Xavi's team, increasingly thick, has barely scored four goals. Only one of them was signed by an attacker. It was Ferran Torres against Shakhtar in Montjuïc. The other three were achieved by Fermín, Gündogan and Araújo. It is true that Lewandowski and Raphinha have returned from injuries, but also that since they have returned they have not helped the team improve.
The most alarming case due to its structural signing is that of Lewandowski. He had to be the cornerstone despite his age (he is now 35 years old). Barça put a three-year ascending contract on the table with an optional fourth. Last season he earned 20 million gross (10 net), this one he receives 26 (13 net), the next he will earn 32 (16) and in the fourth he would stay at 26 again. For this extreme to be reached, the forward has to participate in more than 55% of the games in the 2024-2025 academic year. If he does less, Barça can unilaterally break the contract.
But, beyond its economic cost, in terms of sporting performance the decrease in its effectiveness is alarming. Before the World Cup in Qatar he continued to be Bayern's, with 18 goals in 19 games. But since January he has scored 21 goals in 40 games, six of them this season. He came back in the last half hour in the classic and hit a deflected shot. It was his most notable action after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in Porto. Against Real and Shakhtar he played 180 minutes and didn't even finish. If he doesn't score or shoot, his influence is reduced to a minimum. He has not celebrated a goal since his double against Celta on September 23. He does not have a natural replacement in the squad, at least until Vitor Roque arrives, since it is not at all clear that he can be registered in January.
As for Ferran Torres and Raphinha, their numbers are far from what can be required of forwards in a team that has had many of the most brilliant strikers. The Valencian has worked better as a catalyst than as a starter. The self-rated Shark has five goals this season, but only 19 in 86 games as a Blaugrana. He is not a very unbalanced footballer in one-on-one situations either. Imbalance on the wing is what was asked of Raphinha, but he has shown that his specialty is not dribbling. Yes, hitting the ball and the ability to fight. But neither in the minutes that he played against Madrid and in Anoeta nor when he was a starter in Hamburg did he show the drive he had on other occasions. Without Dembélé, who was his main competitor, he has only scored two goals for a total of 12 in 60 games with Barcelona. Xavi's team is losing the game alarmingly and his forwards do not have enough punch to make up for the lack of collective football. Looking for dynamite.
