A three-match break for Robert Lewandowski is a big nuisance for Barcelona. The Pole has already scored 18 goals this season, 13 of which in league matches. Thanks to this, the “Pride of Catalonia” is the leader of the LaLiga table with two points ahead of Real Madrid.
Xavi has a dilemma. Torres or Fati?
The only natural successor to the 34-year-old as a center forward at the club is Memphis Depay. However, the Dutchman’s way to the starting line-up is very long. He missed most of the fall season mainly due to injury. In Qatar, he also did not impress and probably will not extend the contract that expires at the end of the season, and it is even more realistic to leave Spain in the winter.
There are therefore two candidates to replace Lewandowski in Saturday’s derby clash with Espanyol – Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati, although the history of Xavi’s election shows that he preferred the older Spaniard as a substitute for the Pole in the position of a central striker. He also has more experience in this role at European level, having played it for the national team under Luis Enrique.
Fati, on the other hand, stood out as a centre-forward in Barcelona’s youth groups and when he entered the first team three years ago. This season, however, he played like that only once, a quarter of an hour with Sevilla, when he appeared on the pitch just for Lewandowski.
The Barcelona derby will take place on Saturday, January 31, at 14:00 at Camp Nou. The team of Xavi Hernandez without the captain of the Polish national team will face two more away matches – against Atletico Madrid and Real Betis.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
