Hansi Flick, after the draw against Bruges, asked his players for determination. On Sunday they gave it above all to their attackers, one in particular: Robert Lewandowski. The Pole returned to the starting eleven after two substitutions, and he did so with a written declaration of intent with three goals: from a penalty, from the right leg and with a header. At 37, he completed 90 minutes in Balaídos, despite being replaced by Hansi Flick in the second half, proving that his effectiveness in the box remains undoubted. The Pole – Lamine Yamal aside – is the player with the highest contract in the squad, and his relationship with Barcelona will end in June 2026. The club believes that the amount it can save with him can be allocated to another player. “I’m not in a hurry. The most important thing is the feeling I have and, at that moment, I don’t have to think about my future. There are many things that can happen, even in my life. I’m very happy, focused on this season,” the striker said last week. Against Celta he asserted himself as he prefers: with goals.
He already proved his love affair with goalscoring was still there last season with 42 goals in 52 games. At Balaídos, he scored three of five shots on goal. In total, this season, despite the ups and downs, Lewandowski has already scored seven goals, the same as Ferran Torres, albeit with 300 minutes of play less: 569 for the Pole, 869 for the Valencian. Both are the team’s top scorers.
Ferran actually occupied his position during the absences of killer Polish: first due to muscle injury in August. Then, due to a torn hamstring suffered with the Polish national team. In these periods Ferran has taken a step forward and publicly confessed that he feels ready to be the team’s starting centre-forward. Flick, cautious with returns, decided to reinstate the Pole calmly. “My season starts now,” Lewandowski said before the match against Bruges. This Sunday it was fulfilled.
And he did it at a time when Barcelona’s leadership was needed. The veteran forward also responded this way to the press. “The most important thing is that we won and that we are two points behind Real Madrid. After this match we will be able to analyze what we can improve, in defense and in attack. Now we have two weeks to break with the team, but I hope that in the return we can play much better”, he summed up after the victory against Celta.
The Pole made Balaídos’ difficult stage easy. But he wasn’t alone. Barça’s attack has regained strength and, in addition to the talent of Lamine Yamal on the right, Lewandowski has given the debut of a dance partner: Marcus Rashford. The English striker provided him with two assists and hit the post with one of his shots. The player on loan from Manchester United, irregular in his decisions and intermittent in the results of his actions, begins to adapt to the Barça team. Against Celta he made the difference, and this season he has already registered nine assists and six goals in 16 games, all played for the club.
While the Pole caused chaos in the rival’s zone, his compatriot was not finished putting him out in his own zone. Szczesny has conceded 17 goals in nine games, an average of almost two per game. Against Celta, three shots on target, two inside. Flick will recover Joan García for the next duel after the national break, against Athletic Club on November 22nd. Meanwhile, Barcelona has found its attacking momentum again. And with him Lewandowski, who takes revenge, as always, with the goal.
