Lewandowski: The Bench-Proof Poacher Still Delivering the Goods
Despite being relegated to the bench more frequently this season, Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski continues to prove his worth with crucial goals when called upon.
The 37-year-old Polish striker might be seeing more of the dugout than ever before in his illustrious career, but when it comes to finding the back of the onion bag, Lewandowski remains as lethal as ever for Barcelona.
From Fixture to Rotation Option
This season has marked a significant shift in Lewandowski’s Barcelona career. The veteran forward, accustomed to being an undisputed starter throughout his career, has experienced something of a role change under Hansi Flick:
- Started just 11 matches this campaign
- Come off the bench in 9 games
- Watched 3 entire matches as an unused substitute
- Missed 4 matches with a hamstring injury
The emergence of Ferran Torres as a viable option at centre-forward has contributed to this rotation policy, with Flick clearly keen to manage the Polish striker’s minutes as he approaches his 38th birthday.
Unfazed by the Bench
What’s remarkable is how Lewandowski has responded to this unfamiliar situation. Rather than sulking or demanding answers from his manager, the former Bayern Munich star has simply got on with the job.
The Supercopa de España final against Real Madrid provided the perfect example. Despite not featuring at all in the semi-final against Athletic Club, Lewandowski was restored to the starting lineup for the final and promptly delivered, finishing clinically past Courtois after a brilliant Pedri pass to make it 2-1.
This wasn’t a one-off either. In the previous match against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, Lewandowski came off the bench in the 64th minute and needed just 26 minutes to find the net in the 90th minute.
Still Delivering the Numbers
Despite his reduced playing time, Lewandowski’s productivity remains impressive:
- 10 goals across La Liga, Champions League and Supercopa
- 2 assists to his name
- Contract running until June with option for extension
While some players might have thrown their toys out the pram when faced with reduced minutes, Lewandowski has shown the professionalism and mental strength that has defined his career. He’s not demanding explanations from Flick but simply working harder to regain his automatic starter status.
For Barcelona, having a striker of this quality who can deliver whether starting or coming off the bench is proving to be a proper ace up the sleeve as they compete on multiple fronts.