Barcelona’s preparations for the first El Clásico of the season have been dealt a severe blow, with confirmation that star striker Robert Lewandowski will miss the crucial match against Real Madrid on October 26 due to a hamstring injury.
Injury Catastrophe for Barcelona as Lewandowski Sidelined for El Clásico
The club announced that the 37-year-old has suffered a muscle tear in the biceps femoris of his left thigh, an injury sustained while on international duty with Poland. This setback is expected to sideline him for at least four to six weeks.
Lewandowski’s injury exacerbates an already critical situation for coach Hansi Flick. The Polish striker joins a long and worrying list of key players currently unavailable.
The team’s infirmary includes Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Fermín López, and goalkeepers Marc-André ter Stegen and Joan García.
While there is hope that Yamal, Raphinha, and López could return in time for the match against Real Madrid, their absence has already led to mixed results, including a heavy loss to Sevilla just before the international break.
Matches Robert Lewandowski Will Miss
The estimated recovery timeline means Lewandowski is ruled out of several important fixtures beyond El Clásico. He is guaranteed to miss:
- The La Liga match against Girona
- The UEFA Champions League fixtures against Olympiacos and Club Brugge
- League games against Elche and Celta Vigo
There is also a possibility he could be absent for the match against Athletic Club following the November international break, though the club remains optimistic he could return within four weeks.
With his main striker unavailable, Flick must now find alternative solutions for his attack. The absence of Lewandowski, who scored three goals in this fixture last season, is a significant blow.
According to reports, Ferran Torres is now the likely candidate to lead the line as the central striker in the coming weeks.
Another option being considered is utilizing Marcus Rashford in the number nine role, especially if Raphinha recovers in time to reclaim his spot on the wing.
Flick has also shown a willingness to promote youth from La Masia, with 18-year-old Juan Hernandez training with the first team, offering a potential wildcard for the upcoming fixtures.
With the season’s first clash against their arch-rivals just around the corner, Hansi Flick faces a formidable challenge in reshaping his attack to overcome the absence of his most prolific forward.
