Robert Lewandowski returned to the starting lineup in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis, but his return did not have the expected impact. The Polish striker left the match without scoring a goal, with limited opportunities to find the back of the net. Despite Barcelona dominating many phases of the game, they were unable to create enough attacking chances, leading to clear frustration from Lewandowski.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper ‘‘El Nacional‘‘, Lewandowski had been a substitute in the previous Copa del Rey match, which itself was a minor surprise. However, Hansi Flick decided to give him another opportunity to lead the attack in La Liga. Nevertheless, the match did not go as the Polish striker had hoped. He had no clear chances to score, and when opportunities did arise, they were often in difficult or complex situations. Despite his usual work in pressing and defensive support, his body language throughout the match reflected growing frustration, particularly towards his teammate Lamine Yamal.
Throughout the season, Lewandowski and Lamine had formed a good partnership, with the 17-year-old winger showing his balance and ability to make vertical runs, often providing assists for the Polish striker. However, against Betis, this partnership did not work. Lamine appeared tired from the start, lacking his usual sharpness in making the right decisions. On many occasions, Lamine chose to attempt individual dribbles rather than passing the ball to Lewandowski, which clearly frustrated the latter.
The cameras captured several gestures from Lewandowski during the match: raising his arms, looking in disbelief, and even making some direct comments to the young player. While there was no open protest, it was clear that Lewandowski was far from satisfied with some of his teammate’s decisions.
On the other hand, Lamine began to show the physical toll of the many minutes he has played throughout the season. Despite his great talent, the young player started to exhibit some physical difficulties. Flick insisted on the need to protect him, but the coach knows very well that Lamine is a player who poses a real threat with his dribbling. However, it was simply not his day against Betis.
Flick noticed this drop in attacking performance, and it is likely that in the upcoming matches, he will try to improve player minutes distribution and adjust their attacking roles. Lewandowski remains the most reliable striker, but he needs better support from his teammates to create more precise opportunities. The Betis match served as a warning: if Barcelona’s attacking performance does not improve, the team will lose more points, and Lewandowski’s frustration is a clear sign that urgent improvements are needed in the front line.