Barcelona bought Lewandowski in 2022 after the Polish’s illustrious career with the German club.
Goal Machine to a Struggling Striker
Lewandowski was consistent in front of goal, and Barcelona brought him expecting the same level of performances.
In his debut season, Lewandowski delivered 32 goals and 7 assists in 44 games, he quickly became the strike force Barcelona had been desperately in search of for years. Barcelona fans were excited to finally witness a proper Number 9, especially after watching Luuk De Jong and Martin Braithwaite in the Number 9 position during the dark period of the club.
Lewandowski’s scoring form continued, and he managed to get 25 goals and 9 assists in the 2023-24 season, fewer than the previous season.
This season Lewandowski is in hot form, he has already found the net 23 times. After a dip in stats during the 2023-24 season, Lewandowski found his true form under his previous manager this season. Flick and Lewandowski go a long way back, when Bayern lifted the treble with Lewandowski being the star player and was called “LewanGoalski.”.
How Time is Impacting Lewa’s Game
Barcelona fans have spotted a dip in Lewandowski’s form in recent games. Lewandowski seems to be silent when the team needs him the most, and Flick has shown this frustration by subbing him off during games. A good epitome of this is the last game against Atletico Madrid.
According to SofaScore, Lewandowski’s xG was 2.49 across the two games. That means any average striker would’ve likely scored two or three goals from the chances he had. Lewandowski scored zero.
Time is impacting Lewandowski’s form, as age factor naturally affects the physical attributes of a player. While his positioning and intelligence still remains sharp, he is seemingly less explosive during transitions and struggles to press with the intensity Barcelona demands. He has also received some sticks from his teammates on this.
Lewandowski’s ability to create space and challenge for duels has reduced. He mainly relies on his teammates on the finishing front to provide him with tap-ins, this is giving signals to Barcelona to look for replacements as the Polish man is 36 now.
What’s beyond Lewandowski?
Barcelona only has limited options to replace Lewandowski within the squad. One potential option is Ferran Torres, who has adapted well in the false 9 role. Despite Ferran offering versatility and tactical awareness, he still lacks the finishing touch. Another option is Pau Victor, a young and explosive striker, but he is still inexperienced and not ready to dominate the attack yet.
In my opinion, Barcelona should be active on the transfer market, exploring the right player for the role. As time is gradually affecting Lewandowski’s sharpness. While there have been rumors circulating about the link between Barcelona and Haaland, such a move seems highly improbable given the club’s financial state. Instead, Barcelona should look for a young, reliable one for the future who could serve the club for a long enough time.