Hansi Flick has already seen many. Over the years in Germany and for the last ten months in Barcelona, he managed to get used to the genius of his players and their unusual outlets. Sometimes it seems that nothing impresses him anymore. You will not read the result from his face or as his team goes. However, there are exceptions – after the second goal with Borussia Dortmund jumped at the line and enjoyed like a child. It is hardly surprising, because the action of Lamine Yamala, Raphinhi and Robert Lewandowski was suitable for frameing in a frame: from the perfect Spaniard undercoat, after which the ball landed just in front of the goal, through the extremely conscious bunch of the Brazilian's head, to the very hit of a Pole. Everything took place quickly, and yet Raphinha and Lewandowski before conjuring this goal they managed to look at each other and sense mutual intentions. They both barely barely jumped to the ball, but achieved the goal.
It was an extremely important goal. Thanks to him, Barcelona jumped at 2: 0 and extinguished Borussia's ambitions, ensuring a calmer second half. The match started great – with hurricane attacks and running from 25 minutes, but later – to Flick's dissatisfaction – she stopped controlling the game and allowed his rivals too much. Just before the break, Serhou Guirassy had two excellent occasions, but he didn't use any of them – first he didn't hit the football at a crucial moment, and then hit right next to the post. And although Wojciech Szczęsny did not have to intervene at any of these actions, he was getting more and more dangerous at his goal. Only this goal at 2: 0 braked Borussia and additionally fueled Barcelona. The rest could be predicted. Ended 4: 0.
Robert Lewandowski not only scores goals. Part of his work is missing attention
Lewandowski has no mercy for Borussia Dortmund – so far in 27 matches He scored 27 goals, and in Wednesday evening he added two more. The first head, after great raphinhi, and the second with a strong shot after running into the penalty area. Besides – it was his 140th match in Barcelona and 98 and 99 goal.
We look at Lewandowski week to week. For years. With as close as possible. It is interesting to see how they see him abroad when they look from a distance, maybe not so thoroughly. On Wednesday, in “The Athletic”, Michael Cox, a tactic specialist, wrote about him. He put the thesis that Lewandowski had a career without unusual events: as a teenager he was not considered great talent, he never won the golden ball, because when he had the best chance in 2020, the plebiscite was canceled, he did not achieve success with the Polish national team. There was not much controversy in his career, no serious injuries, no sudden position change. So what is Cox in the eye? Lewandowski's extraordinary stability and no major fluctuations in form over several years. He never finished league Below the second place, since with Lech Poznań in the 2008-2009 season he was third. He never scored less than 17 goals in the season since he made a breakthrough after the first year in Borussia Dortmund. In five seasons he scored an average of a minimum of one goal per match and is just at a good course to make it succeed again.
Cox, however, also draws attention to how a team footballer Lewandowski is and how to set himself on the pitch the task of his colleagues. As an example, he gives a goal action in the last league match against Real Betis – a Pole, seeing Lamine Yamala, who coincided with the ball inside, realized that the best pass would be not to him, but to Ferran Torres, so he immediately changed his position, left the Spaniard more space and at the same time he pointed to him with his finger. Yamal passed to Torres, he was still ripping to Gavi, and he scored. Cox summed up: “Lewandowski did not touch the ball in this action, but he was crucial. This season, the subtle pointing to better arranged colleagues became his hallmark.” The journalist “The Athletic” noticed in Lewandowski Sufler Barcelona, notoriously suggesting to his colleagues the best solutions. He noticed a great space wizard in him, which his colleagues use. These are overlooked aspects of his game.
And in the match against Borussia Dortmund it was also visible. Already in the 5th minute Lewandowski escaped inside, creating a space behind his back, in which Raphinha immediately ran. The Pole played the ball for him, and Barcelona could take the lead after a while. Later, however, he attracted attention in the most typical way – goals. Thanks to the two hits with Borussia, he already has 11 and fights with Raphinha (12 goals) for the title of the top scorer of the Champions League. Looking in what form they are, they will not stop at it.
Barcelona shone. Lewandowski with two goals, Wojciech Szczęsny with a clean account
Borussia Dortmund thanks Champions League She wanted to divert attention from notorious disappointments in league matches. In the Bundesliga he only takes the 8th place, he will probably finish the season with the worst result in two decades, recently changed the coach from Nuri Sahin to Nico Kovac, is lost, not consistent and cannot stabilize the form. However, she can still afford to break up, so Barcelona, despite being a clear favorite, had to be careful. The match against Real Betis, drew 1: 1 last weekend, reminded her that she would not always win. Pau Cubarsi, immediately after its completion, reflected in an interview that that day there was a lack of determination and a desire to win. – We weren't one hundred percent in this match. It is a lesson for us that if we lack a bit, then the victory may escape to us – he warned and rejected the journalist's suggestions that it was a matter of stratification. “It's no excuse, we must be better,” he said.
And indeed, Barcelona in the match against Borussia was much better than at the weekend. Not counting the end of the first half, when she allowed her rivals to come to the fore, she had an absolute advantage over them. At times she crushed them. She shone in the attack – Yamal played with his rivals again, who finished this match with a goal at 4: 0 after a good counterattack and a few very effective dribbling. Raphinha scored two assists and opened the result. Lewandowski finished with a doublet and ten minutes before the end of the match he was said goodbye by fans standing ovation. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong also played another great match. But they are also happy to be defended – Wojciech Szczęsny has another clean account and he didn't even have to work on them, because Borussia players fired three accurate shots.
Well, Barcelona can already be welcomed among the Champions League semi -finalists.