La Liga is back and Barcelona have a problem: How to replace Lewandowski?

With the end of 2022 approaching, La Liga is back. On Saturday, New Year’s Eve, Barcelona take on Espanyol in the city derby, but they have one big problem. They have to replace Robert Lewandowski somehow.

The Polish marksman came to Barcelona in the summer to help end Madrid’s domination of the Catalans. For three seasons in a row the La Liga trophy has gone to the Spanish capital, twice to the white section, once to the red and white one.

And it has to be said that Lewandowski is doing his best. In 14 games he has scored 13 goals and added 4 assists, making him La Liga’s top scorer and most productive player.

The Blaugranas got used to him very quickly, but now there’s a problem. In the last game before the World Cup, Lewandowski was sent off for a crude elbowing and, combined with the subsequent gestures that the committee judged as indicating a bribed referee, he was given a 3 match stoppage time.

Barcelona will thus have to do without Lewandowski in duels with Espanyol, Atlético and Getafe. But replacing a player who had a hand in 17 of the team’s 33 goals will not be easy.

Moreover, in the autumn, Lewandowski played all the La Liga duels in the starting line-up, except for the duel in Cadiz, where Memphis Depay played from the beginning, but now Xavi doesn’t count on him much.

How to replace Lewandowski?

At the moment, the Catalan coach has three options of who to put on the spearhead. Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres are on offer, neither of whom is a typical spearhead striker and penalty killer. The third option is to bet on Memphis again, but he has only started two La Liga games in the current season.

Although he doesn’t have Xavi’s confidence, he increased his value a bit at the World Cup in Qatar. He played a pretty good tournament, starting all 5 games for the Netherlands and scoring in the 8th final against the USA.

So it offers the possibility that Xavi will take him at his mercy, moreover when he doesn’t have much choice. He’s the only natural spike striker in the team, both Fati and Torres would play more of a false 9 position.

Either way, it won’t be easy for Barcelona. Especially going into the duel against Atlético Madrid, they have to go with the strongest possible line-up and losing Lewandowski might be too harsh.

Moreover, the Culés cannot afford to lose points. They have Real Madrid breathing down their necks, with only two points less and a better match between them. So every stumble could play a big part in the final tally.

Source: La Liga, Barcelona