Lewandowski's goal-scoring performance has fallen below his xG (Expected Goals) for the first time since reaching his peak. This decline in his performance began in the second half of his first season at Barcelona (2022-2023) after his exceptional run at Bayern Munich.
The change coincided with Xavi implementing a new four-midfielder system.
Xavi's tactical shift led to one of Barca's best displays in the Spanish Super Cup final, where they outclassed Madrid 3-1. However, some believed this new system sacrificed offensive creativity, evident in their record 11 La Liga 1-0 wins last season.
Lewandowski did however, finish as La Liga's top scorer with 23 goals but expressed his frustration, stating, "After the World Cup, we struggled to play well offensively, not just in winning games but in creating chances and scoring goals as a team."
He emphasized the need for improvement within the team structure.
As said before, the issues seemed to stem from Xavi's shift to a four-midfielder system around the halfway point of the 2022-23 season. In the current campaign, Lewandowski's goal performance remains below his xG, ranking his xG to goals second-worst in Barcelona's La Liga squad.
In 2023, his numbers dipped, with 13 goals and four assists in the first 15 La Liga games of the previous season, resulting in 1.13 goal involvements per game and 0.87 goals per game.
Over the calendar year, including his Poland appearances, he has scored 24 goals in 48 games, a ratio of 0.50 goals per match, a decent rate but below his usual excellence.
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