"This is not the Bundesliga" - Spanish media rebuke Lewandowski

Created: 08/15/2022, 13:38

By: Christoph Klaucke

Robert Lewandowski is still a foreign body at the start of the league at FC Barcelona.

The Spanish press cannot resist a tip.

Munich/Barcelona – Robert Lewandowski certainly imagined things differently: The striker remained goalless in his competitive game premiere for his new club FC Barcelona.

While ex-club FC Bayern celebrates one shooting festival after the other and Sadio Mané was able to score in his first two games, Lewandowski is still struggling in the unfamiliar environment.

In La Liga opener, Barca drew 0-0 at home against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou.

Lewandowski had to take harsh criticism from the Spanish media after the game.

The press even drew a curious comparison with the German Bundesliga, as reported by tz.de.

FC Bayern: Lewandowski suffers the first setback after moving to Barcelona

Lewandowski remained pale, especially in the first half, and was hardly involved in FC Barcelona's game, after the change of sides the 33-year-old missed a few chances.

“The Pole learned a lot in his first game.

The whole flow of the game and the enormous impact from the friendlies were gone when things got serious.

In a good phase of the game, especially in the first half, he was isolated and forced to go into his own half too often," said the Spanish sports newspaper

, which is close to Real Madrid and mostly reports critically of Barcelona.

Lewandowski, who was only eligible to play the day before the game, recognized his team's helplessness and wanted to encourage the 81,104 spectators at the Camp Nou to support them.

Robert Lewandowski disappointed in his first competitive game for FC Barcelona.

© Urbanandsport/Imago

“The other lesson is that the fans don't particularly cheer for their team.

Yes, they are motivated in big games, but not in one like yesterday.

It's not the Bundesliga here, so he had to ask people to cheer," explained Marca.

Barcelona fans are indeed known as 'operetta audiences' and are not easily impressed.

Lewandowski's successor at Bayern, Sadio Mané, on the other hand, quickly developed a close relationship with the fans and climbed the fence with a megaphone on the first day of the game in Frankfurt to celebrate together.

Ex-Bayern star Lewandowski criticized by the Spanish media - "This is not the Bundesliga"

The Spanish newspaper

acknowledged Lewandowski's efforts, but also recognized helplessness in the striker's actions: "He was tired of creating space by forcing Rayo defender Catena to leave his position.

But he didn't know what to do for someone to point him out." Catalan

wrote: "The Blaugranas struggled to find space and create chances in the first half, in which Lewandowski went almost unnoticed."

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After all, Barcelona's coach was "satisfied" with Lewandowski's performance because he works for the team.

He controls the ball very well and helps the team,” said Xavi.

“But we need a little more effectiveness.

That was the main problem today.

Robert and all of us are disappointed with the result.

It's a matter of time before he makes the difference.” While Lewandowski is still looking for his place on the pitch, he has already settled in an idyllic coastal town outside of Barcelona – “like in a movie”.