FC Barcelona has been home to some of the most notable forwards in the history of the sport itself. With the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Ronaldo Nazario, Rivaldo, and Luis Suarez among others all having donned the Blaugrana colors at some point in their careers, the Catalan club is no stranger to legendary number 9s.
The latest in this long list of world-class strikers is 35-year-old Polish talisman Robert Lewandowski, who arrived last summer from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in a deal worth close to €50 million in totality.
While his first season for FC Barcelona was nothing short of impressive, scoring 33 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions, his second half of that particular season as well as his start to the recent 2023/2024 one were showcasing worrying signs.
His goal against Villarreal on Matchday 3 of La Liga EA Sports 2023/2024 won FC Barcelona the game and also managed to end his goal drought in official competitions for Barca since May of this year.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, however, these worrying signs have been waved aside by the recent performances of the Polish striker. Since his goal against Villarreal, the 35-year-old has scored a total of four times including his addition from the game at the Estadi De La Ceramica.
Most recently, he added a brace to his name against the Faroe Islands in a EURO 2024 Qualifiers game for the Polish National team. This brace, coupled with his goals against CA Osasuna and Villarreal CF takes his recent overall goal tally to four goals in his last three games.
Lewandowski is also currently the third-best player in La Liga when it comes to goal contributions in relativity to the team’s overall goals this season. His contribution of two goals and an assist is only surpassed by Take Kubo of Real Sociedad and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old striker also remains one of the few untouchables for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who has consistently relied on the Polish striker to start every game alongside Barcelona second captain Ter Stegen, Frenchman Jules Kounde, and Dutchman Frenkie De Jong.
Xavi even previously was asked regarding Lewandowski’s worrying goal drought, to which the Catalan coach provided no fuel and only insisted on patience and clarity with the player’s improvement in mind:
“He needs to have more patience and not deviate from his position even if the ball doesn’t reach him. The one that falls to him will be in the right place. It happens to midfielders, wingers too. He needs a goal, like all forwards. He’s not an exception.”
With his recent goal-scoring exploits, it seems that the Barcelona forward has finally managed to overcome his recent frustrating form in front of goal and is already looking much more lethal.
With game-winners against Villarreal, Osasuna, and now the Faroe Islands all under his belt, he will look to provide even greater joy and success to Barcelona following the conclusion of the International break.
