The World Cup in Qatar cut Robert Lewandowski's inspiration. The nine from Barça left with his team in full swing. But when he returned from the World Cup –Poland fell in the round of 16–, the spark had vanished. The striker, who missed three league games due to suspension after being sent off in Pamplona, is having a hard time seeing the goal and even so, he already has 25 goals. With his goal in Manchester, he is the only one who has scored in the five competitions his team has played: League (15), Champions League (5), Super Cup (2), Cup (2) and Europa League (1).
There is no doubt that with his signing, Barcelona acquired a world-class finisher. In fact, in the last decade only three footballers had been able to reach 25 goals in a campaign wearing the Blaugrana. They were, of course, Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar.
The 34-year-old Pole's adaptation in his first months at the Camp Nou was surprisingly fast. He related to his teammates, gave them instructions on the field and was a goal-scoring machine. He was averaging almost a goal per game (18 in 19 games). However, that record has been slowed down, something even logical. After Qatar there are 7 goals in 11 duels played (0.63 per game).
But he does not appear punctual as before in front of the goal. Only once in 2023 has he scored a double: against Ceuta, rival of the First RFEF, in the Cup. Last Thursday Barcelona finished near De Gea's goal, in search of a goal that would force extra time, but Lewandowski only fired a shot at Old Trafford. The Polish striker converted the penalty that put Barça ahead. That was his only touch in the opposite area, none with the ball in play, because on the occasion that Varane took him out, the referee ruled offside.
The tactic of putting together four midfielders that has given his team such good results is penalizing the nine, accustomed to playing with two wingers at Bayern, whether they were Robben and Ribéry at the beginning or Gnabry, Coman and Sané at the end.
Xavi has used a fourth midfielder eight times in these two months as a false left winger. Only in the first, in the Metropolitan, the Pole was not (due to sanction). With this tactic, Lewandowski has scored three goals, but only one of them, in the Super Cup final against Madrid, came in combination. The one from Betis went at the exit of a corner, and the one from United, from 11 meters.
Less assisted and more alone up front, the striker has to leave the box to get into play. "I think he participates more, he comes more to receive, associates and unloads balls", Xavi denies that the crack intervenes less. The technician puts homework to the rest. “But you have to look for him more in the area. Robert is the one who most needs us to be successful in the last pass and in the centers”.
In the eight seasons he was in Munich, Bayern reached the quarterfinals in seven. For him it is something new to be out of Europe in February. But Lewandowski has taken it philosophically. “He is aware that this is a medium and long-term process. He is aware of where he is and has seen how we have competed. In the same way that we are eliminated, we could be in. Now, to concentrate like everyone else to fight for the League and the Cup. We have won a title and we want more”. Against Almería, Lewandowski has a chance to finish off more.
