It’s more than just Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona

His goals, strictly speaking, have ‘only’ handed Barcelona six points in LaLiga this season, but for a few months there was a feeling that everything was about Robert Lewandowski and that if Barça were to become Barça again, it would only be because of the Pole’s goals. For a while, he accumulated almost 50 per cent of the team’s goals (13 of 29 on matchday twelve).

Of the last 13 goals Barça have scored in LaLiga, only one has come from Lewandowski. It is true that the former Bayern man was out for three games due to suspension but Barça recorded wins at the Metropolitano, Montilivi and at home to Getafe. They realised they could live without Lewandowski.

Midfield sensation Pedri scored against Getafe and Girona and has already given Barça eight points this season. Raphinha has been brilliant since Dembélé's injury and scored in Sevilla and on Sunday, and Dembélé was also key at the Metropolitano and also in the Copa del Rey.

Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso have also joined the goalscoring party and the team have finally shaken off the feeling of being dependent on a player who is world-class but who, at 34, will also have his dips in form.

Key clashes this month for Barça

Barça now need to add Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati to the score sheet, the other forwards in the squad, especially as they head into some big clashes this month, against Manchester United in the Europa League and against Real Madrid in LaLiga.