Both Lewandowski and Rashford were benched due to a tactical decision by Hansi Flick. This has raised eyebrows, considering Raphinha isn’t playing against Atletico today either.

With two key attackers starting on the bench, Barcelona enter this second leg with a noticeably altered frontline, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to their approach. The tactical choices made by Hansi Flick set the stage for a matchup where every adjustment could prove decisive in a high‑pressure Champions League night.

Barcelona confirmed lineup vs Atletico Madrid

Barcelona’s confirmed XI for the second leg is as follows: Joan Garcia; Joao Cancelo, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin; Pedri Gonzalez, Gavi, Fermin Lopez; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres.

Atletico Madrid confirmed lineup vs Barcelona

Atletico Madrid’s confirmed XI for the second leg is as follows:
Juan Musso; Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand, Bruno Amione Ruggeri, Clement Lenglet; Marcos Llorente, Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion, Giuliano Simeone; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman.

The Polish striker has been one of Barcelona’s most consistent performers this campaign, starting 12 matches while registering 12 goals and one assist. His presence in the final third has been constant, reflected in his 55 total shots, 26 on target, and frequent involvement in high-risk attacking positions.

Despite those numbers, head coach Hansi Flick has opted to leave Lewandowski on the bench for this fixture, suggesting a tactical or rotational decision rather than a disciplinary issue or confirmed injury. Barcelona will also be without Raphinha, who is unavailable for this game.

Barcelona confirmed lineup vs Espanyol

Barcelona’s starting XI shows a blend of youth and defensive solidity, with several key attacking options still present despite Lewandowski’s absence: Joan Garcia; Balde, R. Araujo, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín; Gavi, Pedri, Fermin; Ferran, Lamine Yamal, Eric.

Espanyol confirmed lineup vs Barcelona

Espanyol lines up with a balanced mix of defensive structure and attacking mobility: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, F. Calero, Cabrera, C. Romero; Pol Lozano, Urko, Edu Expósito; Dolan, Ngonge, Kike G.

Barcelona enter the match as LaLiga leaders with 76 points, holding a six-point advantage over second-place Real Madrid, adding further intrigue to a lineup decision that leaves out one of their top scorers.

In a post on his Instagram, Lewandowski included no caption, but the message was clear through the song accompanying it: Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, signaling an unmistakable farewell.

This could very well have been Lewandowski’s last match with Poland. At 37 years old, his international career may be coming to an end, and the choice of a song that represents a goodbye only reinforces the message.

Poland’s missed opportunity

Poland had a difficult run, beginning the playoffs against Albania, where they came from behind to win 2-1, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the first goal. They arrived at Strawberry Arena hopeful of securing a spot, but Sweden stole their chance in the final minutes.

The match started in Sweden’s favor with a goal from Anthony Elanga in the 19th minute. Poland responded in the first half with an equalizer from Nicola Zalewski, but Sweden regained the lead before halftime thanks to a goal from Gustaf Lagerbielke.

Just minutes into the second half, in the 55th minute, Karol Swiderski scored to tie the game again. The score remained 2-2 until the 88th minute, when Viktor Gyokeres, the Arsenal standout, delivered the decisive goal that secured Sweden’s qualification.

How many World Cups has Lewandowski played?

Robert Lewandowski has played in two World Cups: Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. In Russia 2018, he made his World Cup debut, appearing in all three group stage matches against Senegal, Colombia, and Japan, but did not score, and Poland were eliminated in the first round.

In Qatar 2022, Lewandowski played in all four matches for Poland. He scored his only two World Cup goals: one against Saudi Arabia in the group stage and a penalty against France in the Round of 16, where Poland were eliminated 3-1.

With his two-goal performance, the Polish striker has now scored against 41 different opponents in the competition, officially surpassing Messi’s previous record of 40.

Before Lewandowski’s historic night at the Spotify Camp Nou, Messi held the top spot by victimizing 40 different clubs across Europe. The Argentine icon’s favorite target remains Arsenal, whom he punished for nine career goals, followed by prolific tallies against Celtic and AC Milan.

Lewandowski’s own hit list is topped by Benfica, a club he has tormented for nine goals throughout his career. Red Star Belgrade and Real Madrid follow closely behind, having conceded seven and six goals respectively to the evergreen No. 9.

Lewandowski’s historic Champions League blueprint

The Barcelona talisman hasn’t just maintained his scoring pace; he has rewritten the record books, proving that his impact transcends mere volume as he continues to chase the ghosts of the tournament’s greatest icons.

Below are the definitive benchmarks of Lewandowski’s Champions League legacy:

• Most Opponents Scored Against: 41 Teams — Surpassed Lionel Messi’s all-time record following his brace against Newcastle in March 2026.
• All-Time Scoring List: 109 Goals — Solidly third in the record books, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (129).
• Club Versatility: 3 Clubs — The only player in history to net a Champions League hat-trick for three different teams (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona).
• Fastest Quadruple (4 Goals): 14 Minutes, 31 Seconds — A blistering mark set in 2019 during Bayern’s rout of Red Star Belgrade.
• Earliest Hat-trick from Kick-off: 23 Minutes — Established the quickest treble from the start of a match in 2022 against RB Salzburg.

Lewandowski’s ability to deliver at the highest level—a trait perfected during his legendary stints at Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund—remains the driving force behind Barcelona’s European ambitions.

Lewandowski has been ruled out of the semifinal clash after sustaining a fractured left eye socket during Barcelona’s recent 4-1 LaLiga victory over Villarreal. In an official statement on X, the club confirmed the injury.

“First-team player Robert Lewandowski picked up an injury in the recent game against Villarreal. Tests have diagnosed a fracture of the left eye socket. He will miss the game against Atletico Madrid,” Barcelona stated.

Meanwhile, the Dutch international Frenkie de Jong is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a distal biceps injury in his right leg during a training session.

“The medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five to six weeks,” the Spanish giants reported, effectively ruling the midfielder out for over a month of action.

Hansi Flick navigates growing injury list

Beyond Lewandowski and de Jong, manager Hansi Flick continues to navigate a depleted roster. Long-term absentees Gavi and Andreas Christensen remain in recovery and are unavailable for selection. Furthermore, defender Eric Garcia is suspended for the second leg following his straight red card at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

However, it is not entirely bleak for the Catalan giants. Flick will be able to lean on Pedri and Marcus Rashford, both of whom have successfully returned from recent injuries and featured in the win over Villarreal.

Their availability provides a much-needed offensive boost as Barcelona look to pull off a historic European-style “Remontada” on home soil, like they did to PSG during the Round of 16 of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo and Sport, the possibility of a move to the United States has shifted from mere rumor to a concrete alternative. Despite links to Saudi Arabia, Milan, and Turkey, the Chicago Fire have taken the lead in the race for the Polish captain and have already launched a full-scale recruitment effort.

“The club knows that Robert is waiting on Barcelona, but they are doing everything possible to convince him,” reported ESPN analyst Janusz Michallik. “Chicago is 100% committed to his signing and they are fighting to convince both him and his wife,” the insider added.

The Fire began their pursuit months ago when head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter traveled to Spain to meet personally with Lewandowski and his representatives. The pitch includes a massive financial package and a long-term lifestyle plan for his family.

The goal is for Lewandowski to be the face of a franchise aspiring to become an MLS ‘superclub’ ahead of their new stadium opening in 2028. However, Chicago has reportedly applied pressure, signaling it will pivot to a ‘Plan B’ if a decision isn’t reached by the summer window.

Reviving the tension with Messi

The most intriguing aspect of a potential move to Chicago is the inevitable reunion with Lionel Messi. Should the deal go through, Lewandowski would immediately become the primary challenger to the Argentine icon in the Eastern Conference.

This move would reignite a relationship that has seen its share of friction. From controversial voting tallies in individual awards to their infamous on-field clash during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—where Messi visibly ignored a greeting from the Pole after a foul—the history between the two is well-documented.

On the pitch, a move to the Fire would guarantee at least two high-stakes matchups per season between the two legends, providing a new blockbuster fixture for the MLS calendar.

Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s manager, opted to go with Ferran Torres as the starting number nine for the ‘Blaugrana‘ and leave Lewandowski on the bench. This is a tactical decision by the German coach, who has done it constantly this season.

This is not the only top-tier player who is not starting for Barcelona against the Atletico Madrid. However, Lewandowski is healthy and is just a matter that he lost his place to Torres in the lineup. In a key game, the 37-year-old, is not trusted to play the full 90 minutes.

Lewandowski’s numbers compared to Torres’

In the 2025-2026 season, Torres has played 31 games, starting 21 of those. He has 16 goals and one assist in all competitions. As for Lewandowski, he has played 28 games, starting 16, scoring 13 goals and getting one assist in the process. That would make Torres a slightly more prolific player for Barcelona this year.

In raw numbers, Ferran Torres has an 0.88 G+A per 90 minutes played. As for Lewandowski, it’s just slightly below, providing a 0.84 G+A pero 90 minutes played. However, Torres is faster, and more collaborative than Lewandowski, who is more of a traditional, classic striker.

How did Barcelona and Atletico get here?

Barcelona qualified to the semifinals after beating Guadalajara (2-0) in the Round of 32, Racing Santander (2-0) in the Round of 16, and Albacete (2-1) in the quarterfinals. The ‘Culés’ are favored to win against Atletico Madrid in this game.

The ‘Colchoneros‘ beat Atletico Baleares (3-2) in Round of 32, Deportivo La Coruña (1-0) in Round of 16, and Real Betis (5-0) in the quarterfinals. It was a statement made in the quarterfinals but now it’s a tougher test.

With that goal, the Polish forward reached 113 goals wearing the Catalan giants’ shirt and recorded his 10th tally of the 2025-26 LaLiga campaign. The finish against Mallorca officially moved Lewandowski into an exclusive group of elite European scorers, one previously occupied by Messi and Ronaldo.

Thanks to his weekend contribution, Lewandowski became the third player to post double-digit goal totals in 15 consecutive seasons across Europe’s top five leagues in the 21st century. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 16, and Lionel Messi, with 15, had achieved that level of sustained dominance before him.

Lewandowski continues to answer with goals despite being 37 years old. His contract with Barcelona expires in June, and for now, his future remains unresolved. The legendary striker’s priority is to stay at the club, although the Blaugrana front office is expected to evaluate the possibility of bringing in a younger No. 9 for the coming seasons.

How Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski reached the milestone

Ronaldo built his run while playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, while Messi maintained that consistency with Barcelona and later with Paris Saint-Germain. Lewandowski officially matched the mark by scoring in the 3-0 victory over Mallorca on Matchday 23 of the current LaLiga season.

The Polish star has played for Barcelona since the summer of 2022. Before that, he enjoyed prolific spells with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, establishing himself as one of the most reliable scorers of his era. This season, he has appeared in 28 matches across all competitions, totaling 13 goals and three assists.

There is no question that the achievement speaks to longevity, consistency, determination, and elite professionalism. These are players who defined a generation and who still carry the hunger to compete at the highest level. If this is indeed the closing stretch of Lewandowski’s prime years, Barcelona are making sure to savor every goal.

After surprisingly trailing at halftime at the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona emerged for the second half determined to shift the momentum. The Catalan giants scored four unanswered goals to dismantle their opponents 4-1, ensuring a straight ticket to the Round of 16.

Lewandowski ignited the comeback by scoring the equalizer, and in doing so, reached an imposing milestone. The Polish striker has now become only the second player in history to score against 40 different Champions League opponents, joining the Argentine legend at the top of the list.

With this feat, Lewandowski remains tied with Messi for the all-time record but holds a significant advantage to surpass it, given that Messi is unlikely to compete in the Champions League again.

Lewandowski’s historic achievement places him in elite company: behind the leading duo sit Cristiano Ronaldo (38 teams), Karim Benzema (34 teams), and Raul Gonzalez (33 teams).

The 40 clubs Lewandowski has scorched

Among the teams that have suffered most at the hands of Robert Lewandowski, Benfica leads the pack, having conceded nine goals to the Polish international. They are followed by Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade with seven, while both RB Salzburg and Real Madrid sit in a dead heat with six goals each.

Below is the comprehensive list of the Polish striker’s victims in the Champions League and the number of goals he has netted against each:

The decision to leave both players out is entirely tactical and was made by head coach Hansi Flick. Raphinha and Lewandowski were starters in the Barcelona Spanish Super Cup victory against Real Madrid and have logged heavy minutes early in 2026, prompting Flick to prioritize injury prevention during a critical stretch of the season.

Both players remain available on the bench, signaling rotation rather than concern as Barcelona manage their squad depth. Another notable absence for Barcelona is Pedri, who, like his teammates, remains on the bench as part of a planned rotation to manage workload and recovery.

Despite those absences, Barcelona are still expected to put together a strong performance, given the depth of their squad and several intriguing changes among key positions. Ferran Torres steps in for Robert Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford replaces Raphinha, and Dani Olmo fills Pedri’s role, while young midfielders Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó are also set to receive minutes.

Barcelona’s confirmed lineup

The starting XI confirmed by head coach Hansi Flick is as follows: Joan García in goal; Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, and Alejandro Balde across the back line; Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal in midfield; with Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Marcus Rashford supporting Ferran Torres in attack.

The current form of both teams

Racing Santander arrive as leaders of Segunda División with 38 points from 21 matches. Even so, Racing Santander are in the midst of a three-game winless run, with their most recent victory coming in the Copa del Rey, where they eliminated Villarreal 2–1 in the previous round.

Barcelona, meanwhile, enter the match riding high after defeating Real Madrid and lifting the Spanish Super Cup. The Blaugrana are the clear favorites to advance, but they remain on alert, knowing Racing Santander will not back down. With contrasting momentum and plenty of talent on display, the stage is set for a potentially memorable Copa del Rey night.

Different outlets have reported that Lamine Yamal is not starting because manager Hansi Flick decided to rest him for at least the first half. While the players was ready to play from the start, the German manager is adamant on the idea that if a player doesn’t train leading up to a game, said player won’t start.

As for Lewandowski, he won’t start against Athletic Club, most likely because the team is resting him as well. The striker is an absolute poacher, but he is 37 years old, so it’s understandable that Barcelona control his minutes cautiously. If Athletic Club present troubles, the Polish striker will likely enter the game.

While Yamal is a star, Lewandowski is key

Yamal is the present and the future for Barcelona. However, given the state of how the team is constructed, Lewandowski might be the one the red-and-blue miss the most. As you can see on the lineups for this game of Barcelona vs Athletic Club for the Spanish Super Cup, Ferran Torres will be the one at the No. 9 position. Torres has never been a natural striker, although he has scored some important goals.

Entering the second half of the season, Lewandowski has scored nine goals and one assist in 14 games played. However, he’s only started seven of those games. Lewandowski averages 1.29 goal involvements (goal or assist) per 90 minutes.

Barcelona wants to keep their Super Cup dominance

There have been 41 editions of the Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona have won 15 of those, which makes them the most laureate team in the competition. They are followed closely by Real Madrid with 13. As for Barcelona’s opponent for this game, Athletic Club won three editions. Follow Barcelona vs Athletic Club live as it develops so you don’t miss any details from the game.

Barcelona have won two of the three last editions. Last season, they did it winning against their arch-rivals in an absolute clinic. The Cules will try to replicate that success again this year.