Online Reporter
BARCELONA host high-flying Villarreal today aiming to tighten their grip on pole position in the Spanish LaLiga amid concerns about the form of strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
Coach Hansi Flick has rotated between the veteran Pole and the Spaniard this season to lead the attack, but neither has fully convinced.
Former Bayern Munich great Lewandowski (37), has declined rapidly this season as well as enduring some fitness issues, while Torres, (25), is on course for a personal record for goals but most of them came in a purple patch towards the end of last year.
The Catalan giants have obvious problems in defence, as opponents exploit their high line with growing regularity, but last season managed to score enough goals to outweigh their deficiencies in that area as they lifted a domestic treble.
Wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are among the best in the world in their positions but whichever option Flick places between them has struggled in 2026.
Torres has just three goals in his last 15 appearances across all competitions, and his all-round game is lacking, unable to contribute effectively as Barca build up attacks, frequently losing the ball.
Lewandowski has five goals in his last 18 games, but seems less mobile than before and a peripheral presence at times.
“With so many matches, rotation at striker is natural, and I think Ferran and I can benefit from the current situation,” Lewandowski told Polish magazine Pilka Nozna this week.
“When you play 90 minutes every three days your whole life is about recovery, now the balance is a little better. I’m tired but I’m not worn-out.”
Barca still lead LaLiga for goals scored, with 67, but they are coming from everywhere – 10 different players have scored two or more, and nobody has more than Torres on 12.
By contrast to Barca’s centre-forwards, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, despite struggling with a long-running knee problem, leads the scoring charts in Spain with 23 and the Champions League with 13.
“Mbappe is the best striker in the world,” admitted Flick in January. “He has scored many, many goals and is a world-class player.”
Flick’s side lead LaLiga by a point ahead of Villarreal’s visit. A point behind Madrid who host Getafe on Monday.
The German coach has not used England international Marcus Rashford much in that position, with the Manchester United loanee more keen on operating from the left.
However, with Raphinha fit and firing after an injury absence, Rashford might change his mind and view playing as a No. 9 as his best chance of more minutes.
Fixtures:
Today: Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Bilbao (3pm), Barcelona v Villarreal (5:15pm), Mallorca v Real Sociedad (7:30pm), Real Oviedo v Atletico Madrid (10pm)
Tomorrow: Elche v Espanyol (3pm), Valencia v Osasuna (3:15pm), Real Betis v Sevilla (7:30pm), Girona v Celta Vigo (10pm)
Monday: Real Madrid v Getafe (10pm) – AFP Sport.
