No Lewandowski, Will Barcelona Be “Buried” in Super Classic

Without Lewandowski, will Barcelona be “buried” in the El Clasico and the Champions League semi-finals?

Robert Lewandowski’s injury leaves major doubts for Barcelona in their journey towards a historic treble.

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The Value Of The “Big Brother”

Robert Lewandowski is not only a world-class striker but also the heart of Barcelona’s attack in the 2024-2025 season. At the age of 36, he still maintains an incredible form with 40 goals after 48 matches in all competitions, a number that few players at this age can achieve.

In La Liga, he leads the list of top scorers with 25 goals, more than the second-placed Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid (22 goals). In the Champions League, he scored 11 goals, equal to Harry Kane of Munich, behind Serhou Guirassy of Dortmund (13 goals) and Raphinha (Barca, 12 goals). These numbers not only reflect Lewandowski’s talent but also show his stability and durability, a rare quality in modern football.

Lewandowski’s Role

Lewandowski’s role is clearly demonstrated in big matches. October’s El Clasico was a prime example: he scored twice as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. According to Sofascore, in this match, he made three key passes, completed two dribbles and had an 89% pass accuracy.

Another moment was the decisive goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage, where he took advantage of a mistake in the opposition defence to score with a cool finish. These contributions not only brought victory but also affirmed his influence in the squad.

Lewandowski has been a bridge between experience and youth at Barcelona this season. He has coordinated well with young talents such as Lamine Yamal and Pedri, creating sharp attacks.

Lewandowski’s Chance Conversion Rate

According to FBref, Lewandowski’s chance conversion rate is 22%, surpassing Ferran Torres (18%) or Raphinha (16%). This shows that he not only scores a lot but is also extremely effective, a factor that is difficult to replace. His presence brings confidence and stability to the team, especially in high-pressure periods.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the recent injury could keep Lewandowski out for 4 to 6 weeks. This is an important time with a tight schedule in La Liga and the Champions League. His absence raises a big question: can Barcelona maintain their form without their main star?

Who Can Replace Lewandowski?

Although Lewandowski is indispensable, Barcelona still have a quality and flexible attacking squad to deal with this situation. Raphinha, with explosive performance in the 2024-2025 season, scored 30 goals and had 21 assists in 49 matches.

According to ESPN, he leads La Liga in assists (9) and has scored 12 goals in the Champions League, the most of any team in Europe. Raphinha’s versatility is a highlight, he can play on both wings, or take on the role of a striker when needed. In the 3-1 win over Sevilla in March, when Lewandowski was absent, Raphinha scored the opening goal from a spectacular solo run, beating two defenders before finishing with a tricky finish.

Who is Lamine Yamal?

Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old talent, is also asserting himself as one of the best attacking players in Europe. He has scored 14 goals and provided 19 assists in 47 games, with outstanding performances in big matches. The 4-1 win over Bayern Munich was proof, when he provided 1 assist and contributed well to the team’s play, showing his outstanding speed and individual technique.

Ferran Torres, despite often being on the bench, has also contributed 17 goals and 4 assists in 41 games. In the match against Sevilla, Yamal assisted Torres’ goal, showing the ability to coordinate well between Barcelona’s attacking players.

The Importance of the Midfield

The midfield is also a key fulcrum. Pedri, with 5 goals and 7 assists in 51 games, dictates the tempo of the game with his intelligence and passing accuracy (91%, according to Transfermarkt). Dani Olmo, with 10 goals and 5 assists in 31 games, brings creativity with his breakthrough passes. Fermín López, despite his limited playing time, has also scored 5 goals and provided 8 assists, demonstrating the depth of Barcelona’s squad.

According to Opta, Raphinha has a pass completion rate of 85%, higher than Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. (82%), proving that he is not only dangerous in attack but also reliable in possession.

The Importance of Coach Hansi Flick

Coach Hansi Flick has played a key role in adapting to Lewandowski’s absence. In the win over Sevilla, he switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation, pushing Raphinha into the centre-forward position and using Yamal’s pace on the right wing. This tactic has allowed Barcelona to maintain constant pressure on the opposition defence.

Flick’s versatility, combined with the high form of his attacking players, shows that Barcelona are not entirely reliant on Lewandowski. However, to maintain their strength in the long term, the team needs consistent performances from other stars during this period.

Contribution statistics of other attacking players

What are Barcelona’s Chances of A Treble?

The goal of winning the treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) is a big challenge, especially with Lewandowski absent. However, Barcelona still have a chance if they make good use of their current squad and the ability of coach Hansi Flick to manage. In La Liga, they are leading the rankings with 4 points more than Real Madrid after 33 rounds. The second leg of El Clasico on 11/5 will be an important test for Barcelona if Lewandowski does not return in time.

In the Champions League, Barcelona will face Inter Milan in the semi-finals. Inter’s difficulty with their tight Italian football will bring many risks to Barca when they do not have their best striker. Lewandowski’s experience is needed in knock-out matches like this. According to FiveThirtyEight, before the injury, Barcelona’s chances of winning the Champions League were 20%, but that number could drop to 15% if he is out for a long time.

The Final and Biggest Test for Barcelona

In the Copa del Rey, after having overcome a series of names, Real Madrid will be the final and biggest challenge for Barcelona. After a double in the first leg of La Liga (4-0 win) and scoring 1 goal in the 5-2 victory in the Spanish Super Cup, the Polish striker showed that he is very lucky to score against Real.

This statistic will also be a challenge for other strikers in the context of Lewandowski’s absence. To overcome Real, Barca needs another bright star. It is very possible that Raphinha and Yamal will step into the light like in the victory over Sevilla, where they combined to score 2 goals.

Hansi Flick will need to adjust his tactics to optimize his squad. He can use a possession-based style of play, take advantage of the creativity of Pedri and Olmo, or push Raphinha up to play as a “false 9”.

Overall, the absence of Robert Lewandowski is a big loss, but with the flexibility of coach Hansi Flick and other young players, Barca still have a chance to win the treble. Although the road ahead is not easy, the Catalan team still has faith in a historic season.