He was signed for more than fifty million euros, arriving in Barcelona as the next big thing in football, expected to take over from Robert Lewandowski. But just six months in, he found himself needing to escape due to tough times with the Catalan team.He was signed for more than fifty million euros, arriving in Barcelona as the star scorer of Euro 2024, and he has the potential to take over for Robert Lewandowski. Even though he could have left after just six months due to tough times, he chose to stick it out in the Pride of Catalonia.
While they weren't the main focus in the game between Barcelona and Betis (more on that later), you can't overlook Vitor Roque and Dani Olmo. They were at the front lines for their teams, but honestly, they might as well not have been on the pitch for this match.Vitor Roque is currently on loan at Betis and is set to head back to Barcelona this summer. However, it seems like he won't be sticking around for long. The vibe in Catalonia isn't too optimistic about his future there. This is highlighted by the fact that the Spanish vice-champions didn't even bother to add a "fear clause" in the loan deal, which would prevent him from playing against them.
On the other hand, Dani Olmo was unsure just a week ago if he’d even get to play for Barcelona. But he got the green light to play conditionally, and on Wednesday night, he proved he could be a solid backup for Lewandowski. While he plays a different style than the Pole, he definitely has the experience to step in as a false striker.He had played like that plenty of times for the Spanish national team, so he was totally in his element against Betis. He was a key player in the home team's attacks and capped off his great performance with two assists. Meanwhile, Lewandowski was left on the sidelines. Hansi Flick decided to bench him for the second time this season, and once again, he didn’t call him up.
Flick's strange decision regarding Lewandowski? It’s not surprising at all. Barcelona has a packed schedule coming up. They’ll be playing every 3-4 days starting January 4th, and that won’t let up until at least February 5th. And if they can’t stay in the top eight of the Champions League, they’ll have to deal with the play-offs. If they get through, like in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, they’ll be stuck with that crazy schedule until mid-March.
It was a flawless match for Barcelona—up until the 84th minute. And let’s not forget the two goals that were disallowed. Still, some might say Flick could have given Lewandowski a break in the last round of the Copa del Rey. Instead, the guy had to endure a three-hour bus ride to Barbastro to play on a terrible pitch against a fourth-division team.Back then, it was about more than just hitting the target. After games where Lewandowski struggled to score, Flick was there to support him and help him find his rhythm again. Lewandowski returned the favor by netting two goals.
Check out the highlights of Lamine Yamal's incredible game against Real Betis.
Flick's smart handling of his team is going to be crucial in the long haul. It became pretty obvious, especially in late autumn, that after a fantastic start to the season, Barcelona hit a bit of a physical wall. This slump lined up with some rough patches in their home games. The Estadi Montjuic never really felt like a stronghold, but the fact that they hadn't won at home since November 26 (and in domestic matches since November 3) said a lot.
That gloomy phase seems like a distant memory now. On Sunday, Flick's squad dominated Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final with a score of 5-2, and just a few days later, they took another step toward adding to their trophy collection. After a 5-1 victory over Betis, they’re already through to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Flick had a little fun with the media regarding Lewandowski and Szczęsny. It’s no surprise that Barcelona is feeling good about themselves. During the post-match press conference, Jakub Kłyszejko from TVP Sport asked Flick why Lewandowski was absent and if it was due to health issues. Flick quipped, "When 'Tek' [Szczęsny] doesn’t play, Robert doesn’t play either," which left the room in silence for a moment. Then, with a big grin, he clarified, "No, sorry, it’s just a rest," turning the joke into a light-hearted moment.
