Robert Lewandowski’s revival has been a key to Barcelona’s sturdy begin to life underneath Hansi Flick because the striker returns to Dortmund to face Borussia within the Champions League on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Pole has netted 23 targets in 21 video games throughout all competitions this season, taking Barcelona high of the Spanish league and as much as third within the European standings. They lead final 12 months’s Champions League finalists Dortmund, who like Barcelona have 4 victories from 5 video games, on aim distinction earlier than their assembly in Germany.
Lewandowski lower his tooth in high stage European soccer with Dortmund between 2010 and 2014, driving them to the 2013 closing, the place they misplaced to rivals Bayern Munich at Wembley.
A 12 months later he joined Bayern and eventually claimed the Champions League with them in 2020.
Lewandowski arrived at Barcelona in 2022 and after a robust first marketing campaign, his efficiency dipped final season.
Flick’s arrival gave each the group and the veteran striker recent impetus and till a latest wobble in type, each have thrived.
Lewandowski reached a profession century of Champions League targets in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Brest in November. He trails solely all-time high goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo and former Barcelona nice Lionel Messi.
Lewandowski is high scorer each in Spain and within the Champions League, the place he boasts seven targets from 5 matches, two greater than every other participant.
Despite his deadly type in entrance of aim, Lewandowski’s presence in Barcelona’s aspect does have one disadvantage.
Pressing doubts
In half given his age, the striker has not been in a position to preserve his group’s goal of urgent opponents as persistently as Flick would really like.
A drop in urgent depth has just lately uncovered Barcelona’s excessive line of defense greater than at the beginning of the season.
“It’s clear that we made errors, however I insist, it is not the fault of the again 4, it begins up entrance,” stated the coach after a shock 2-1 loss to minnows Las Palmas in La Liga at the beginning of December.
Barcelona additionally just lately threw away a two-goal lead at Celta Vigo, with Real Madrid gobbling up the space between the perimeters on the high of the desk that the Catalans had established.
Barca’s latest points can be completely analysed by Dortmund forward of the conflict on the Westfalenstadion, with Flick additionally admitting his group have struggled on the street.
Barcelona twice let a lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Saturday through which Lewandowski scored. They had been overwhelmed at instances by the hosts.
“We have the standard to win each match however we even have to point out that,” stated Flick.
“(In) the away matches now we have to be a lot stronger than we performed right here.”
Given Flick’s drive to make Barcelona a extra strong group, the questions is how lengthy Lewandowski can proceed to shine because the minutes rack up.
The coach rested the striker for a latest 5-1 romp over Mallorca which prompt Barcelona won’t be depending on the ahead in the identical means they’re on 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal.
However, Flick has backed Lewandowski since arriving and even when the Pole’s work-rate has dipped, the coach believes.
“Robert is an absolute skilled participant, working exhausting on his health, this physique he has, it is not this age,” stated the coach earlier within the season.
After some irritating shows final season, Lewandowski has rolled again the years underneath Flick and Dortmund followers will worry the return of the devastating ahead who wore their colors a decade in the past.
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