FC Barcelona are entering a crucial stretch in the 2024–25 season, with the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid looming next Saturday. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, head coach Hansi Flick offered an update on the fitness of star striker Robert Lewandowski.
During Barcelona’s thrilling 4–3 win over Celta de Vigo on Saturday, Lewandowski was forced to exit the match in the 78th minute due to muscular discomfort. Addressing concerns over the Polish forward’s availability, Flick struck a cautious tone.
“Hopefully, he’ll be ready. We don’t know that, but we have to wait. We’ll be happy once he’s finished and ready to play. At the moment, we don’t know how long it’ll take, and we don’t want to say anything either,” Flick said during Monday’s press conference ahead of the game against Mallorca.
Barcelona released an official statement on Sunday confirming the severity of the injury: “The tests carried out this Sunday have confirmed that Robert Lewandowski suffers an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh,” read the letter issued by Barcelona.
Given the nature of the injury, reports indicate Lewandowski is expected to be sidelined for two to four weeks—ruling him out of the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. His recovery timeline will be crucial in determining his availability for the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan, with the first leg scheduled for April 30.
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Flick’s trump card
Losing Lewandowski is a major setback for Barça, as the veteran striker has been a standout performer this season, tallying 40 goals and 3 assists in 48 appearances. However, Flick expressed confidence in Ferran Torres stepping up in his absence, praising his current form and the impact he has had.
“He’s in a good moment in his career, he’s scored 10 goals in La Liga. For what he shows, the No. 9 is the right position for him. He’s a fast player, but he can also control the ball, he gives us dynamism while defending, he’s in a good moment,” Flick noted.
With Lewandowski sidelined, the German coach emphasized the importance of managing Torres’ minutes to preserve his form down the stretch. “This is what I want to see from him, but we’ll have to manage him, because we need him until the end of the season,” Flick concluded.
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