Turbulent Times for Lewandowski: What Should He Look Forward to in 2024?

Xavi’s Barcelona has had a rollercoaster ride this year, be it winning the league away at Espanyol last season or finally making it to the Champions League knockouts after falling down into the Europa League two years in a row. In reaching all these milestones, Robert Lewandowski has had a key role to play. A lot of things have changed between these two events, and it’s not all for the good.

The Solution is Now a Problem?

Last season, Lewandowski arrived and hit the ground running. Barcelona was having all kinds of troubles scoring goals, and Lewa’s transfer was thought of as the immediate resolve. It goes without saying that the Polish striker is no stranger to scoring goals and was a delight to watch. His performances were justly rewarded with the Pichichi trophy, having scored 23 goals in LaLiga in his first season at Barcelona. (In Spanish football, the Trofeo Pichichi is awarded by the sports newspaper Marca to the top goalscorer of each La Liga season.) He made himself look like a smart purchase for F.C. Barcelona.

However, his form started falling a bit off right at the very end of the last season. Another concern that the fans raised was him not turning up in the big games, i.e., Bayern in the UCL last season, Real Madrid in El Clasicos (against whom he just has 1 goal in 5 appearances), and the like.

He has recorded below-average performances in LaLiga this season, with 8 goals in 16 appearances (averaging a goal every two games). It is also worth noting that out of the 8 goals he has scored, 2 were penalties. These figures might not seem abysmal, but they are keeping Lewandowski outside the top 5 spots for the league’s highest goalscorers. (As of now, even Alvaro Morata has scored more goals than him this season.)

He has also been wasteful in the Champions League with just 1 goal in 5 appearances.

Xavi was getting transfer offers for Lewandowski from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other nations in the Middle-East, offering him huge contracts and paychecks. But it seems like he trusts Lewandowski to regain his shooting boots and help the team in his own signature way by scoring goals—and lots of them.

What Now?

Currently, F.C. Barcelona sits 4th in the LaLiga table, 7 points behind Real Madrid, who are the league leaders. In the Champions League, they have the Round of 16 to look forward to against Napoli, with the first of the two legs to be played away in February at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples. They also have the Copa Del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana to play, therefore it is safe to say that “All is not lost.” The season is still salvageable with everything to fight for. There is enough time left for Lewandowski to return to his best and turn into the goal-scoring machine he always was. Will or will he not do that is a question for the Pole, which can be best answered by his boots. Where can he start answering his critics? On the 4th of January away at the Estadio Gran Canaria against U.D. Las Palmas.

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Ishaan ShahabadiNews Writer

Ishaan Shahabadi is an individual driven by a diligent passion for international affairs, politics, reading, and writing. With a comprehensive understanding of these subjects, he possesses the expertise to add significant value and seamlessly integrate into the proposed process. Ishaan is committed to prioritizing assigned tasks, meeting deadlines, and ensuring optimal performance, showcasing a robust work ethic. His dedication and proficiency make him a valuable asset, ready to contribute meaningfully to any project or initiative he undertakes.

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