Barca have hit a stretch of dryness. The reason? The team and Lewandowski miss Dembélé.
Barça is not enjoying its best spell. In the most recent league matches, coupled with their Copa del Rey exit, it becomes clear that Xavi Hernández’s squad is stuck in a tough moment in both creation and finishing. When looking at creativity, the absence of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong is obvious; in the final third, in the meters that decide games, there is a lack of balance and a drop in scoring rhythm. Robert Lewandowski looks uncomfortable on the field, failing to find good chances, lacking teammates to supply him with killer passes, and growing frustrated. But what is behind this?
Ousmane, a pivotal factor in Barça’s goal drought
The explanation for Barça’s current scoring drought has a clear culprit: Ousmane Dembélé. Since the winger sustained his injury, Barça has lost his edge. Lewandowski has felt the impact and appears less lethal without his speed and threat. Statistics show that Dembélé is uniquely able to spark the pool and bring out his best. The pattern is straightforward: Dembélé provides creativity and Lewandowski finishes. Numbers reflect this. The team has produced between two and five goals in these periods. Dembélé has also been the best setup man for Lewandowski, delivering up to three assists. Lewandowski and Dembélé have combined for two assists themselves, underscoring the duo’s synergy.
Dembélé brings out the best Lewandowski
Crucially, the most revealing data highlights that the Dembélé–Lewandowski partnership is Barça’s most productive attacking option. With Dembélé on the pitch, Lewandowski has tallied 22 goals in 23 appearances, an average just under one goal per game. In contrast, without Dembélé, Lewandowski has managed only five goals in 13 appearances, an average around 0.38 per game. The expected goals metric also tilts in Dembélé’s favor. When Dembélé is involved, the expected goals margin sits around 16.08 over 23 games, while without him the margin drops to about 6.78 in 13 games.
Xavi finds multiple explanations in Dembele’s impact
Football often defies simple math, yet numbers help illuminate some on-field dynamics. Dembele is an unpredictable threat capable of creating danger himself and pulling defenders toward him. That autonomy loosens defensive attention on Lewandowski, opening space for him to operate in the box. When Xavi emphasizes Dembele’s leading role, he has good reasons, and the recent struggles make Barça feel his absence acutely. Both Lewandowski and the team miss the pace, the daring runs, and the creative spark that Dembele provides.