The Pole will miss the duel in the Santiago Bernabéu.
Robert Lewandowski will be unavailable for the first leg of the 2023 Copa del Rey semi finals as Barcelona face a tough setback ahead of the Clásico against Real Madrid. The situation softens the mood for Barça and adds pressure on a team that has relied on the Polish striker to consistently find the back of the net against their bitter rivals.
Why isn’t Lewandowski playing the Clásico Real Madrid vs. Barcelona of the 2023 Copa del Rey
Late last weekend, Lewandowski picked up an injury while the Culés faced Almería, and this setback now looms over Barcelona’s schedule for the upcoming fixtures, including the must-win clash at the Santiago Bernabéu on Thursday, March 2. The setback is particularly painful because it interrupts a period of rising momentum for Barcelona after a challenging stretch of matches, where every goal and every moment of influence can sway the outcome of a tight tie in a high-stakes competition.
The Polish international is dealing with a hamstring strain, which means he will miss at least the first leg of the cup semi-finals. This marks the first major injury challenge of Lewandowski’s Barcelona tenure, and it comes at a moment when the team could ill afford to be shorthanded in attack as they chase a trophy and try to maintain a strong domestic push. His absence is not just about one match; it reverberates through the squad’s planning, demanding tactical adjustments and a shift in how the offense creates and converts chances against a familiar rival.
Real Madrid has historically been a difficult opponent for Lewandowski. Across his career in major European competitions, including spells against Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona in battles against Los Blancos, the forward has faced the Whites multiple times, contributing goals and assists that illustrate his knack for delivering when the spotlight is brightest. The dynamic between Lewandowski and a defense like Real Madrid’s has often been a focal point in the fixture, with his movement, pace, and finishing quality testing even veteran backlines.
In domestic and European clashes with Real Madrid while wearing Barcelona colors, Lewandowski has already left his mark. He provided an assist in a league Clasico that ended in a 3-1 defeat for Barcelona, and he notched a goal and an assist in the Spanish Super Cup meeting that also finished 3-1 in Madrid’s favor. Compiling ten appearances against Real Madrid in various competitions, his record shows a balance of four wins, two draws, and four losses for the Blaugrana across those confrontations when counting all competitions. The data underscores that Lewandowski’s impact is tangible in this rivalry, even if outcomes have not always tipped in Barcelona’s direction.
First-team updates from Barcelona indicated an overload in the left thigh, a concern that required careful management. A short update from the club on social media noted the issue and underlined that the team would monitor his progress before confirming any return timeline. The public messaging reflected the reality that a cautious approach is essential when a player of Lewandowski’s caliber is sidelined, given his role as a primary source of goals and the strategic importance of his presence on the field during important fixtures.
– FC Barcelona
In theory, depending on how his injury evolves, the Pole could be out for roughly two weeks. Barça are confident they can have him available for the second round Clasico in La Liga, scheduled for March 19 at Camp Nou, should his condition improve on the planned rehabilitation path. The club will be weighing the risk of aggravation against the potential reward of having him fit for a crucial league match that could decide the title race and momentum heading into late-season spells.