Lewandowski Injury: What he has and how long the Barça '9' will be out

Pending official medical confirmation from FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski suffers a muscle injury in his left biceps femoris that would keep him out of competition for between two and three weeks. This rules him out of the Copa final and puts his presence in the Champions League semi-finals in doubt, with his return more likely in mid-May.

Lewandowski suffered an injury during the match between FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo, corresponding to matchday 32 of LaLiga EA Sports. The Polish striker asked for a substitution in the 77th minute after showing clear signs of pain and grabbing the back of his left thigh. The first reports and feelings in the dressing room point to a possible tear in the biceps femoris of his left leg, although there is still no official medical report.

Lewandowski left the field visibly affected and, as could be seen, he even commented to his teammates "I've torn it", which reinforces the hypothesis of a muscle injury of some severity.

How long will the Barça striker be out?

The most widespread estimate among the media and sources close to the club is that Lewandowski could be out of action for between two and three weeks, depending on the exact severity of the muscle injury. If the tear in the biceps femoris is confirmed, the minimum time out would be three weeks.

What matches will Lewandowski miss?

Lewandowski injured one week before the Copa final

It is almost certain that Lewandowski will miss the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, scheduled for Saturday 26 April. His presence in the Champions League semi-finals against Inter Milan is also in serious doubt, as his recovery may not be in time for those commitments. In the best-case scenario, his return could be for the LaLiga Clásico on 11 May in Montjuïc.

The matches Lewandowski would miss

1. FC Barcelona vs Mallorca (LaLiga J33)

2. FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Copa Final)
3. FC Barcelona vs Inter (Champions League Semifinal)
4. Valladolid vs FC Barcelona (LaLiga J34)

Lewandowski's absence adds to the physical saturation suffered by the squad due to the demanding schedule of matches, with key matches every few days (Copa del Rey final, Champions League semi-finals and decisive La Liga matches).

Flick has already shown his concern about the lack of rest and has begun to rotate important players, such as Lamine Yamal, to avoid more injuries and arrive with as many players as possible for the crucial matches. Lewandowski's absence increases the pressure on the rest of the attackers and forces Flick to dose his players even more.

How will this injury affect Flick's plans for the rest of the season?

Lewandowski's injury forces Hansi Flick to modify his offensive scheme in the most decisive stretch of the season. Ferran Torres is emerging as the main replacement in the centre-forward position, although his profile is different from that of the Pole, which could affect the goalscoring ability and the reference game in attack.

Flick will have to look for tactical alternatives to compensate for the absence of a pure "9", possibly opting for greater mobility and speed in the offensive line, with players such as Ferran, Raphinha or even Lamine Yamal, although the latter is also being dosed due to the accumulation of matches.

Lewandowski's injury comes at the worst possible time, with Barça playing for titles in all competitions. Flick must manage the pressure and morale of the dressing room, maintaining competitiveness despite the adversities and the criticism for the management of the schedules and the lack of institutional protection.