Barcelona‘s title defence didn’t turn out like Xavi and his men would have expected. Financial restrictions in the transfer window meant that no big name was coming to the Spanish club. They managed to get 3-4 players on loan but Xavi’s main transfer targets were still missing. This meant that the former player had to fight with the players he had and added a few academy youngsters to the first team.
One player who came to Barcelona last season and played a crucial role in winning the title was Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker is one of the best in the business and can single-handedly win games for his team. However, he has not been at his best this season. This is mainly due to injuries in the camp and that has also affected the creativity of the team. In the last three games, the 35-year-old has shown what he is capable of. Let’s take a look at Lewandowski’s recent form and whether he can push his side for a late revival in the league.
Ending goal-scoring drought
Robert Lewandowski made a great start to his LaLiga 2023-24 season. He scored eight goals in the first 14 league appearances. After a decent run, Lewandowski struggled in six games starting in December and this struggle continued until January. In those six games, the player attempted 15 shots and had a 40% accuracy rate. Some of the shots from around the six-yard box were blocked and Lewandowski was left frustrated on the field. The Spanish club lost two matches during this period and won four.
The LaLiga 2023-24 season entered February and Lewandowski showed his class once again. The Polish striker scored in three matches played this month. Lewandowski’s touch map shows that the player has drifted to the left side on occasions.
Barcelona’s No. 9 scored against Alaves in the opening game of the month. This was followed by another goal against Granada. Lewandowski took his tally to 12 goals with a brace against Celta Vigo. These two goals resulted in a win for the Spanish champions.
The 35-year-old attempted seven shots in these three games and five were on target. Lewandowski averages 2.75 shots per 90 minutes in the LaLiga 2023-24 and has a 44.4% accuracy rate.
Robert Lewandowski’s performances this season
This visual highlights a striker’s proficiency at receiving the ball in the penalty area (Receive) and their goals per shot ratio. Top right quadrant players frequently get into dangerous positions and convert their chances effectively. Lewandowski is in the top quadrant but his goals-per-shot ratio is not up to the mark with other strikers in the league.
The above visual contrasts a striker’s overall attacking contribution with their shooting prowess. Those in the top right quadrant are not only involved in attacking moves but also frequently take shots. Once again Lewandowski has shown a bit of signs of struggles and is not rated among the best. He has limited involvement in the attack and his shooting has not been up to the mark.
Robert Lewandowski will look to continue his scoring run and end Barcelona’s season on a high. He has been one of the best in the business over the years.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine