Bad news for Barça as Copa del Rey final and UCL semi finals loom

Robert Lewandowski will be out of action for FC Barcelona for around three weeks. The medical examinations the Polish striker underwent on Sunday morning confirmed that he is suffering from an injury to the semitendinosus muscle of the left hamstring, which was already indicated by the initial scans carried out after the match against Celta. Lewandowski had to be substituted in the 77th minute of the 4-3 on Saturday and his absence comes at a critical point of the season.

“Tests conducted this Sunday have confirmed that Robert Lewandowski has an injury to the semitendinosus muscle of his left thigh. His return to full-time with the team will be decided based on his progress,” the club statement read.

His absence represents a major setback for Barcelona at the most crucial moment of the season, with the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid next Saturday along with the Champions League semi-final against Inter and the Liga Clásico on May 11. Lewandowski is certain to miss the cup final and the first leg of the UCL semi-final and may be ready for the return leg or the match against Madrid at Montjuïc, but his evolution and recovery will dictate his return to action.

Ferran or Olmo to step up

Lewandowski’s injury opens the door to Ferran Torres becoming a starter with the Valencia native already part of the starting eleven in the victory against Celta, scoring the first goal.

El Tiburon has also performed well in the Copa del Rey this season, where he started in the quarterfinals against Valencia and in both semifinal matches against Atlético, and he was even tipped to do so at La Cartuja final as well. Along with Julián Alvarez and Endrick, he leads the table of the tournament’s top scorers with five goals: one against Betis, three against Valencia and one against Atlético.

Ferran is a man Flick trusts most, and his numbers prove this. In 2025, he has seven goals in La Liga, in addition to the five he has scored in the Copa del Rey, and his importance in the team is growing.

The other option Flick will consider is to deploy Dani Olmo, once his injury is resolved, as a key offensive player. His introduction proved crucial against Celta as he made it 3-2 and forced the decisive penalty that Raphinha converted in stoppage time. Olmo has a different profile to Ferran, more of a support player than a disruptive figure, but he’s also emerging as a more than reliable option to replace the injured Lewandowski.

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