At 36, Robert Lewandowski continues to impress, scoring 22 goals in 19 matches for FC Barcelona. He recently achieved his 100th Champions League goal, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in an elite group. Coach Hansi Flick praised his performance, highlighting Lewandowski’s prolific scoring record under his management. Despite recent struggles in La Liga, Barcelona remains reliant on Lewandowski’s scoring ability, especially with upcoming challenges ahead as they seek to regain their momentum in the league.
With 19 competitive matches played and 22 goals scored, Robert Lewandowski proves age is just a number at 36. His coach at FC Barcelona, Hans-Dieter Flick, is not surprised by this remarkable feat.
When Robert Lewandowski netted the first goal for FC Barcelona during their recent Champions League match against Stade Brest in the 10th minute, it marked a significant milestone—his 100th goal in the Champions League. This achievement places him as the third player in the history of the tournament to reach this landmark, following Cristiano Ronaldo (140 goals) and Lionel Messi (129).
‘Many years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League,’ expressed the Polish striker after his team’s 3-0 victory, where he found the net again later in the match. His coach, Hansi Flick, praised his star player post-game, stating, ‘He is incredible. I know him from my time in Munich. There he broke almost all the records that can be broken.’
One of the records Flick referenced is undoubtedly Lewandowski’s astonishing performance in the Bundesliga during the 2020/2021 season. Under Flick’s guidance, Lewandowski shattered a 49-year-old record held by Gerd Müller, scoring an impressive 41 goals in a single season—one more than the legendary ‘Bomber of the Nation.’
Lewandowski’s Impressive Scoring Record Under Flick
Lewandowski appears to thrive under Flick’s management. In the 71 matches played under the German coach at FC Bayern, he accumulated an astonishing 83 goals and contributed 19 assists. Since Flick took charge at FC Barcelona last summer, Lewandowski has maintained a similar scoring rate, netting 22 goals in just 19 competitive matches.
After finishing last season with 19 league goals—his first campaign below 20 since 2015—speculation arose in Spain about a potential decline in performance. However, the appointment of Flick has seemingly revitalized his game.
Flick’s high-pressing tactics, reminiscent of his time at Bayern, often position Lewandowski to exploit his greatest asset: finishing. The seasoned striker also benefits from the dynamic play of teammates such as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who have assisted him in scoring eight goals this season while flourishing in Flick’s attack-oriented system.
It’s no surprise that Lewandowski speaks highly of his coach: ‘Hansi always has a recipe. We believe in him, he believes in us. […] He manages to find a balance between experienced players and young players, so we all go in one direction together.’
Barcelona’s Recent League Struggles
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, Lewandowski is expected to play a crucial role in helping ‘Barça’ regain momentum in the league following his double in the Champions League. The Catalan club has experienced a slight downturn, collecting only one point from their last two matches after a strong start that saw them earn 33 points from the first 12 games. Their once-comfortable lead over Real Madrid has dwindled to just four points, with Madrid holding a game in hand.
The recent 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo was particularly disappointing, with the league leaders relinquishing a two-goal advantage in the closing moments—a result that left coach Flick visibly frustrated. Following a 0-1 defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break, he described it as a ‘bad day’ for the team, and after the Celta match, he was even more candid: ‘That wasn’t just ten minutes. We played a really bad game overall. […] That is not the way we want to play.’
FC Barcelona has once again dropped points in La Liga and now finds itself under increasing pressure from arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Defense Must Show Improvement
As they prepare to face the seventeenth-placed team from Las Palmas, Barcelona’s defense needs to tighten up. The high defensive line strategy, which often relies on catching opponents offside, has been partially figured out in the last two league matches, resulting in 29 shots on goal against them.
In attack, there’s anticipation surrounding the return of young talent Lamine Yamal, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury for three matches but may rejoin the squad on Saturday.
Close to a comeback: Lamine Yamal
While Yamal may not be ready for the starting lineup, it falls to his teammates to continue their impressive home form. Barça has won all eight home matches at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys—the temporary venue during Camp Nou’s renovation—across all competitions this season. To maintain this streak and secure the vital three points, Hansi Flick will be counting on Lewandowski to deliver once again, as he has consistently done.
Catch a summary of the match on Sportschau this Saturday at 6 PM.