Barcelona veteran forward Robert Lewandowski is leading the Spanish club’s charge in the UEFA Champions League.
The former Bayern Munich star has been one of his side’s best players in a season they have struggled on the home front.
The 35-year-old and Barcelona have been paired with Paris Saint-German in the final eight of the Champions League, and he relishes the prospect of facing one of the biggest players in world football – Kylian Mbappe.
Lewandowski may have struggled to maintain form this season to an extent, but he has been able to score 20 goals and contributed nine assists in 39 appearances in all competitions this season.
This particular match-up is one of the games of the round and is highly anticipated by a lot of football fans and other neutral fans. It would be interesting to see how the game ends up.
Barcelona’s struggles in the La Liga, Xavi’s exit
After winning the league last season, Barcelona have been dumped out of the title race and they are just trying to play catch-up on the log between now and the end of the season.
In December when Barcelona dropped points to Valencia, manager Xavi lamented the state of his team: “We must be one of the worst teams in Europe in terms of effectiveness.”
Since then, the team has been largely inconsistent in their games for most of the season and that has cost Xavi his job as he is to leave in the summer.
Meanwhile, Xavi confirmed after their 5-3 loss to Villarreal that he would be stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season.
“I want to announce that on June 30, I will not continue as coach of Barcelona,” the club legend said. “I decided a few days ago, but I think it’s time. The club needs a change of dynamic.”
“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite. Right now, if I think with my head and think about the club, the solution, and the best thing is for me to leave in June, that is how I feel.
“I think this decision will help unblock the team and the mood in here. I just told the president [Joan] Laporta now. We had a meeting, and it was a very human conversation, just with common sense. Their trust in them is still fantastic.
“But I believe this is the moment to say this. I don’t make my decisions following money, my contract will never be a problem. I just make my choices following my heart. I don’t need anything more.”
Xavi added: “In Barcelona, you always feel like you’re not valued, you’re mistreated — that’s how the club works. From a mental health level, it’s tough, too.
“I’m a positive guy, but the battery levels keep running out — and at some point, you realize there’s no point in staying.”
Barca are currently second on the log 8 points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, and with eight games to go, their hopes of retaining the title are quickly diminishing.
Champions League delight Lewa and Barcelona
Barcelona were placed in Group H alongside Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Royal Antwerp. The Spanish side won four games and suffered two defeats to beat Porto to top spot in the group.
While they had their struggles in La Liga, Xavi’s men looked like a side without issues in the Champions League as they carefully got the necessary points that were enough to take them through.
It is the first time they have gone beyond the round of 16 stage in the Champions League since 2020.
As for the Polish striker, he scored just a goal during the group stages but came alive in the knockout round. He scored in both legs against Napoli to lead his side to victory in their round of 16 clash.
Robert Lewandowski has 51 Champions League goal contributions over the last five seasons, the most of any player over that span.
Who will go through between Barcelona and PSG?
Barcelona has a date with French side PSG in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and it seems like a game where the Blaugrana have a slight upper hand. PSG, who expectedly sit top of the log in Ligue 1, went past Real Sociedad in the round of 16 with ease.
It is the first time the two sides will be meeting since the 2020/2021 campaign when Les Parisiens sent the Spanish side out 5-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 to progress into the final eight.
PSG will entertain Barcelona in the first leg at the Parc des Princes on April 10, while the second leg will take place at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on April 16. PSG vs Barcelona tickets are available on Seatnets for fans still looking to get a live view of the action.
The winner of this tie will play either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, with four of the competition’s favorites – Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid – on the other side of the draw.
Lewandowski confident ahead of clash with Mbappe
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has insisted he is unafraid of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe as the two clubs prepare to clash in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Lewandowski gave an interview with Meczyki in which he was asked about the prospect of facing Mbappe as a rival should he join Madrid next season.
“Playing against him in La Liga will be great. If this transfer happens, I will not be afraid, and I will perceive it positively,” Lewandowski said.
When asked about his uncertain future at Barcelona in the same interview, Lewandowski was not explicit about staying put this summer.
“There is no point in continuing this. Everything is clear to me. I know where I will play next season. I will stay in Barcelona,” he added.
