Lewandowski's Road to Recovery: When Will Barcelona's Goal Machine Return to Action?
Robert Lewandowski manages every aspect within his power.
This is an athlete who sleeps on his left side to protect the muscles in his right leg, who keeps his body fat at 6% even during vacation and consumes dessert before his main meal to help with digestion (apparently avoiding sweets hasn't been put to the test yet).
This meticulous preparation explains why Lewandowski continues to be among the globe's elite strikers at 37 years old. Though playing a reduced role, frequently coming off the substitute bench, Barcelona's productive Polish striker has netted 11 goals in merely 10 league starts.
Nevertheless, even Lewandowski cannot protect himself from unfortunate circumstances.
While turning to make a run behind Villarreal's defensive line during Barcelona's last February match, the striker collided directly with Pau Navarro's shoulder. There was no malicious intent, just unfortunate timing as Lewandowski fell to the ground holding his face.
The experienced veteran pushed through the discomfort to finish the match, which predictably concluded with a skillfully scored goal, but follow-up examinations led Barcelona to release an official medical statement confirming Lewandowski's unavailability.
What Injury Does Robert Lewandowski Have?
What Injury Does Robert Lewandowski Have?
𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 ‼️
First team player Robert Lewandowski picked up an injury in the recent game against Villarreal. Tests have diagnosed a fracture of the left eye socket.
He will miss the game against Atlético Madrid. pic.twitter.com/I54nE94rs8
The day following Barcelona's 4–1 victory over Villarreal on Feb. 28, the team issued a medical statement disclosing that Lewandowski had sustained a fractured eye socket.
Throughout his extensive career, Lewandowski has endured numerous injuries. Over ten years ago, the slender striker collided forcefully with Borussia Dortmund's goalkeeper Mitch Langerak during his Bayern Munich days, resulting in a broken nose and jaw fracture. Lewandowski missed only a single game.
With the help of a custom-made protective mask, he was ready to face Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League semifinal. Bayern suffered a crushing 3–0 defeat.
Lewandowski had difficulties in that match and later admitted how challenging it was to play while wearing facial protection—something he might face again this season. "When I had to wear a mask myself, it wasn't nice," the Polish player reflected years afterward.
"It's quite bothersome, particularly in the penalty box, I experienced issues, I couldn't respond properly, my vision was restricted ... It's just milliseconds but it can hinder a player's performance. It's challenging and unpleasant."
Despite these challenges, Lewandowski still found the net against Barcelona in the return leg of that Champions League semifinal.
When Will Robert Lewandowski Be Fit for Barcelona?
When Will Robert Lewandowski Be Fit for Barcelona?
Following the announcement of Lewandowski's injury, Barcelona confirmed their striker would be unavailable for the upcoming Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Atlético Madrid.
After falling behind 4–0 following a dramatic first-leg collapse at the Metropolitano, Barcelona's hopes of mounting an improbable comeback would have benefited from having a player with over 700 career goals available.
Nevertheless, there's a possibility that Lewandowski might return in some form for Barcelona's league encounter with Athletic Club on Saturday, according to MARCA. The same source emphasizes that both the player and club view the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Newcastle United on Tuesday, March 10 as the "primary target" for his comeback.