Why is Robert Lewandowski wearing a mask for Barcelona’s first leg against Newcastle
Barcelona striker will be wearing a mask tonight for Barcelona as Hansi Flick’s side travel to St. James’ Park for the first leg of the Round of the 16.

Barcelona met Newcastle in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 match from St. James’ Park, and the good news for Hansi Flick is he will have Robert Lewandowski available. The bad news for the Polish number nine, is he willing to have to wear a mask for this crucial match away from the Camp Nou.
The masked man in Barca XI
The Barca striker broke his left orbital bone in a collision with a Villarreal player in a league match at the beginning of the month. He was only able to play 24 minutes before getting subbed off with a goal to his name in the 4-1 win over the Yellow Submarine.
LEWANDOWSKI JUGARA CON LA MASCARA EN SAN MAMES https://t.co/8jq12uLtyL pic.twitter.com/gbOsJV5DL9
— 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢. (@gxldeadam) March 4, 2026
Lewandowski was forced to miss the second leg of the Copa del Rey against Atletico Madrid last week, but returned to the squad over the weekend for a massive match against Athletic Bilbao from San Mames. He entered the match as a substitute and played a half an hour as the cules earned three important points the La Liga title race.
Unlike the match in Bilbao, Lewandowski will be featured in Flicks XI from St. James’ Park. The Blaugrana will be looking to produce a good result on the road before returning home next week for the second leg from Barcelona.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.


Complete your personal details to comment