Barcelona’s perfect striker revealed as Lewandowski hits crisis point

Robin Bairner

• 22 Jan 2024 12:53 GMT
• 9 min read

Barcelona might have beaten Real Betis in LaLiga on Sunday, but striker Robert Lewandowski’s contribution to the 4-2 success was minimal.

The Poland international had already been warming the bench having been replaced by Vitor Roque around the hour mark by the time Joao Felix and Fermin Torres scored the late goals that secured a precious victory for Xavi’s side.

Doubts continue to grow over Lewandowski. Now 35 and Barca’s second-biggest earner behind Frenkie de Jong, the former Bayern Munich hitman has eight LaLiga goals to his name this season but has only three in his last 14.

Aside from scoring, he offers little, which is one of the reasons he has it crisis point at Barcelona.

On Saturday, he failed to register a single shot and did not attempt a single dribble, while he only completed five of 12 attempted passes and lost possession on eight occasions. Now Sport reports that he is not seen as untouchable, who would Barcelona like to replace him?

Using SciSports’ player comparison tool, FootballTransfers has looked at the perfect player to come in and fulfil Lewandowski’s role.

Looking at the Pole’s strengths when he signed for Barca in the summer of 2022 after scoring 50 goals in 46 games for Bayern Munich, three standout attributes are required.

• Finishing: Top 10%

• Recoveries: Top 10%

• Pressing: Top 10%

On top of this, players were also narrowed down to centre-forwards who are deemed to have an 80% similarity or closer to Lewandowski in terms of their playing style.

From here, three standout candidates emerged who are given a SciScore, a data-driven measure of a player’s quality, of over 100.

Barcelona’s ideal Lewandowski replacement

The most realistic of the three options that SciSports suggests is Tottenham forward Richarlison.

The Brazilian has found life difficult at Spurs, where the arrival of a new striker will see his first-team opportunities undoubtedly cut.

Where the 26-year-old really falls down is over his quality. Although Lewandowski’s SciSkill is dropping quickly – down to 113.1 from 125 at the start of 2023 – this is still better than Richarlison’s score of 101.4.

Similarly, Liverpool attacker Darwin Nunez is given the same figure, yet the Uruguayan at least boasts the potential to reach 108.1 in the eyes of SciSports. But will this be enough to replace Lewandowski, especially as January addition Vitor Roque has a ceiling in excess of 118?

Barcelona’s perfect option would be Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus. For January, he is unrealistic, yet the situation could change.

The Gunners are known to want a more prolific No.9 to lead their line, potentially edging the former Manchester City man out of the first-team picture. Could that be enough to trigger a move in the summer? It’s a possibility that should not be discounted.

Barcelona’s trouble, of course, will be funding a move, but with months of notice, president Joan Laporta will be plotting a way to get at least one blockbuster deal over the line in the summer – and that could mean the end of Lewandowski.