That gesture in Pamplona where he touched his nose to address Lewandowski was interpreted differently by Gil Manzano, and the consequence was a three-match ban. The upcoming derby against Espanyol at Camp Nou will kick off this Saturday, and Xavi faces a fresh puzzle: find an emergency center forward among four of the five attackers he still has available. Ferran, Ansu, Memphis, or Dembélé are in the mix, while Raphinha cannot fill that role, pushing Xavi to devise a quick solution for a pressing problem.
Barcelona must cope without Lewandowski, the team’s most relentless scorer, who has 13 league goals this season. There is no obvious substitute who can reliably fill the nine shirt, so Xavi has to improvise. The true impact of Lewandowski goes beyond goals; his presence alone can intimidate opponents and shape the game. Espanyol, Atletico Madrid on January 8, and Getafe on the 22 will reveal whether Barça can endure this absence and retain their most influential player’s influence on the pitch.
Lewandowski: “Very harsh” sanction from a Madrid-led committee
The discussion around the sanction has sparked debate in football circles as supporters seek a clear rationale behind the decision that impacts the team so deeply.
Dembélé has felt the stress
Xavi publicly praises Dembélé, while privately admiring his talent. The player is widely regarded as exceptional, a sentiment amplified by a renowned documentary that highlights his remarkable skill. Yet the World Cup left him unsettled. France trusted him deeply until the final rounds, and a decisive moment altered the trajectory. Now Xavi must rebuild confidence, starting with fitness and form. He has not yet used Dembélé as a true nine in any match.
Ansu Fati, second most influential
The striker with a natural connection to goal-scoring sits just behind Lewandowski in impact. Ansu has produced three goals in limited minutes, ranking second to Lewandowski on a per-minute basis. He is often deployed from the left wing, where his integration into the starting lineup is gradual. The pattern mirrors past World Cup tactics, where Ansu earned a secondary role before stepping into the spotlight, although his minutes have been limited in recent games, leaving him with room to grow.
Ferran Torres, inconsistent
The center forward used by Xavi to rotate rest days in the Champions League, Ferran found form late but has not yet established himself as a regular starter. Returning from the World Cup in a role on the right wing, he contributed with goals, including a standout performance against Costa Rica. However, his influence has fluctuated, and questions remain about his sustained fit within the system after nearly a year at Camp Nou. Xavi continues to defend him while navigating a crowded forward lineup.
Raphinha, a missed option
Raphinha arrived carrying injuries from the World Cup and initially operated on the right flank, forming an attacking quartet with Richarlison and Vinícius. He featured in several matches but did not find the back of the net or provide assists in that stretch. While highly skilled on the wing, he has not shown the necessary profile to serve as a lone center forward, which complicates the current selection dilemma for Xavi.
The right wing remains favored for Dembélé, but the left side has also offered opportunities. A recent memory of a decisive goal in Pamplona still lingers, marking Raphinha’s signature moment in a few months. Yet that single highlight sits alongside a dry spell of results that leaves his role under discussion.
Memphis, the least used
Memphis has seen the pitch sparingly in recent times. He briefly provided rest for Lewandowski in Cádiz, but his last appearance for Barça dates back to September. This season has been hampered by injuries and rotations, limiting his involvement to a handful of appearances in the squad. With several fitness and selection issues, Memphis has spent more time on duty with his national team than with Barça, reducing his chance to become a reliable option up front.
Memphis’s recovery period and ongoing health concerns have kept him largely sidelined, contributing to the current uncertainty about who steps up as the main striker in Lewandowski’s absence. As the squad navigates the upcoming fixtures, the forward line is under close watch, and Xavi is weighing all available options to sustain offensive momentum.
That Pamplona gesture and the subsequent ban put immediate pressure on the coach. The derby against Espanyol will be a litmus test for the chosen solution, as the team searches for a viable center-forward option among Ferran, Ansu, Memphis, and Dembélé. Raphinha sits outside that specific role, so he is not the answer to the immediate problem.
Barça will need to balance goal-scoring instincts with a cohesive front line that can endure without Lewandowski. The squad’s current depth is tested as Espanyol, Atletico Madrid, and Getafe loom on the horizon, shaping whether the team can sustain their competitive edge during this challenging period.