Xavi explains how Barcelona must use Lewandowski better
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 27 Jul 2022 08:42 BST
- 3 min read
Robert Lewandowski is yet to get off the mark for Barcelona after completing his long-awaited transfer from Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski first went public with his desire to leave Bayern when on international duty with Poland in April, with Barcelona his destination of choice.
Barca were finally able to complete his €50 million transfer in July after activating "financial levers" to free up some budget, and there was understandable excitement among fans to have acquired a player who scored 50 goals in 46 games last season.
Lewandowski has started up front in the last two games of Barcelona's pre-season tour of the USA - a 1-0 win over Clasico rivals Real Madrid and a 2-2 draw with Juventus - but the goals have not been flowing in quite the same way.
Ousmane Dembele, that is ridiculous! 🤯pic.twitter.com/t8n4S48V6s
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) July 27, 2022
Although a net 108 minutes without a goal can hardly be described as a drought, Lewandowski scored at a rate of one every 80 he played last term, and Barca coach Xavi wants Lewy's teammates to adapt to him is much as vice versa.
Xavi: 'more active'
"We have to look for Lewandowski more, especially when they pressure us," Xavi said following the Juve draw. "We need to look for him to be more active in the opponent's half, this is our goal."
While Lewandowski lined up as the focal point in a 4-2-3-1 at Bayern, Barcelona play, almost without fail, in a 4-3-3. Lewy still leads the line, but the wingers have greater license to cut inside and go for goal themselves.
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Raphinha - another summer arrival from Leeds - got the only goal of the game against Real in Las Vegas, while Barca's goals against Juventus in Dallas were thanks to an Ousmane Dembele brace.
Lewandowski still has competition from strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay at Camp Nou, and he will be desperate to get off the mark against New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
But Raphinha, Dembele and Co. need to pass to him, and Lewandowski needs to be on the move to receive.
