Robert Lewandowski’s resurgence has been crucial to Barcelona’s impressive start under Hansi Flick, as the striker returns to Dortmund to take on Borussia in the Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski honed his skills in top-tier European football with Borussia Dortmund from 2010 to 2014, leading them to the 2013 Champions League final, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich at Wembley. A year later, he joined Bayern and went on to claim the Champions League title with them in 2020.
After joining Barcelona in 2022, Lewandowski had a strong first season, although his form dipped somewhat last year. However, the arrival of Hansi Flick has provided both the team and the veteran striker with a fresh boost, and until a recent dip in form, both have been thriving.
Lewandowski reached a career milestone, scoring his 100th Champions League goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Brest in November. He now trails only all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and former Barcelona great Lionel Messi in the all-time standings.
Currently, Lewandowski is the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, with seven goals from five matches—two more than any other player.
Despite his lethal goal-scoring form, Lewandowski’s presence in Barcelona’s lineup does come with some challenges.
Pressing Concerns
Due to his age, Lewandowski has struggled to maintain the intensity of pressing that Flick prefers, which has affected Barcelona’s overall pressing game. This drop in pressing intensity has exposed Barcelona’s high defensive line more than earlier in the season.
After a surprising 2-1 loss to Las Palmas in December, Flick acknowledged the team’s mistakes but pointed out that the issue stemmed from the front line: “It’s clear that we made mistakes, but I insist, it’s not the fault of the back four, it starts up front.”
Barcelona also squandered a two-goal lead at Celta Vigo, which allowed Real Madrid to close the gap at the top of La Liga.
Flick and his team will closely review these issues ahead of their clash with Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion. The coach also admitted that Barcelona has struggled away from home recently. They twice let a lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis, in which Lewandowski scored, with the hosts often overwhelming them.
“We have the quality to win every match, but we also have to show that,” Flick said. “In away matches, we have to be much stronger than we played here.”
With Flick focused on making Barcelona a more resilient team, the question arises: how long can Lewandowski continue to shine as the minutes add up?
The coach rested Lewandowski for a 5-1 win over Mallorca, suggesting that Barcelona might not be as reliant on the striker as they are on 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal. Still, Flick has consistently supported Lewandowski, believing that despite any dips in his work rate, the Polish forward remains an invaluable asset.
“Robert is an absolute professional, working hard on his fitness,” Flick said earlier this season. “This body he has, it’s not about age.”
After a frustrating season last year, Lewandowski has turned back the clock under Flick’s guidance. Dortmund fans will surely be wary of the devastating forward who once donned their colors, now returning to face them a decade later.
