The situation
Lewandowski , who seemed to live an idyll with Barça since his arrival, has been disconnected in the last week. Inter ‘s central defenders , Skriniar , De Vrij and Bastoni , gobbled him up last Tuesday at the San Siro , where he was slow to move. And against Celta he hardly came into contact with the ball. Two games without a goal, just after the national team break (in which he had not scored a goal either) and at the worst moment, when Barça is risking its prestige and its economy in the Champions League. The Champions League awaits Lewandowski , who since he was champion in the 2019-20 season during the pandemic (victories in the final phase with 2-8 against Barça, Lyon and PSG) could not take Bayern beyond the quarter finals. Last season, he lost against Villarreal and the previous one, against PSG in a tie that he could not play due to injury. And Barca, of course, is also waiting for Lewandowski , who was signed to solve great games, magical nights that the club is in great need of. And, for now, Lewandowski was overcome by emotions against Bayern in Munich , where he missed two chances in the first half. And in Milan , where he was slow in the area in several actions and did not choose the moments well. However, Xavi ‘s confidence in the Pole is total. Since he landed in preseason to play the Clásico against Madrid , it is evident that he is indisputable even in friendlies. The Barça coach has avoided replacing him in games that could require him, such as the one on Sunday against Celta . But Xavi has turned him into one of the leaders of the Barça dressing room and, due to a lack of feeling with some of the captains, he has asked him to have ascendancy over the rest of the players.
The details
Lewandowski has lost touch with the game in recent games. He has lacked presence and arrival. That is one of Xavi ‘s jobs , feeding the Pole much more, who has been far from where he does damage, in the area. You have to see what tools the Terrassa coach uses , who in Milan wasted the full-backs until Balde appeared in the match. raphinhahe played inside and the only way to try to find him was Dembélé. That may change today. Xavi could return to a defense of four in which the full-backs had a leading role to reach the baseline and multiply the options so that Lewandowski can give Barcelona a magical night. He is in the spotlight on D-Day.