Barcelona host Villarreal on Saturday hoping to consolidate their position at the top of La Liga despite ongoing concerns over the form of strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Coach Hansi Flick has rotated between Lewandowski and Torres this season, but neither has consistently delivered, with Lewandowski scoring five goals in his last 18 matches and Torres managing three in his last 15 appearances.
While Barca’s wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha continue to perform at world class levels, the team’s central striking options have struggled to contribute effectively to build-up play. Lewandowski acknowledged the challenges of a congested schedule, noting that rotation allows better recovery and helps maintain performance across multiple competitions.
Despite striker issues, Barcelona remain La Liga’s top scorers with 67 goals spread across 10 players, while Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe leads the overall scoring charts in Spain with 23 goals. Marcus Rashford has contributed significantly for Barca this season with 13 assists and 10 goals, although he has not often been used in a central striking role.
Villarreal visit Camp Nou trailing Barca by 10 points, and a surprise victory could boost their title hopes. Flick hopes the upcoming two-week break will allow his side to rest and prepare for the challenging fixture. Key matches over the weekend also include Rayo Vallecano against Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis hosting Sevilla, and Real Madrid taking on Getafe on Monday.
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