Barcelona’s star striker, Robert Lewandowski, is facing a period of absence from the team due to a left ankle sprain sustained during their 1-0 Champions League victory over Porto. Early reports indicate that Lewandowski could be sidelined for more than a month, which would result in him missing the highly anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid.
The injury occurred when Portuguese defender David Carmo brought down Lewandowski, initially thought to be a mere bruise. However, it now appears to be a more serious issue, potentially keeping the Polish striker out of action for up to eight matches. This includes La Liga fixtures against Granada, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, and Alaves, as well as the El Clasico showdown and a Champions League double-header against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Barcelona lacks a direct replacement for the 35-year-old forward, although former Manchester City player Ferran Torres is the likely candidate to step into the role. Torres did contribute the lone goal in the Champions League match against Porto, but he will have to shoulder the goal-scoring responsibilities moving forward.
Adding to Barcelona’s injury concerns up front is the absence of former Leeds winger Raphinha. This leaves manager Xavi with limited attacking options, primarily relying on Torres, Joao Felix, and the 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal for the foreseeable future.