Robert Lewandowski faced another setback this season, missing a penalty during a high-stakes match against Atlético Madrid. After a string of inconsistencies in converting penalty kicks, he again found himself unable to score when it mattered most.
On October 5, Lewandowski failed to capitalize on a penalty against Sevilla, contributing to a disappointing 4-1 defeat for his team. The match against Atlético on Tuesday presented him with another opportunity, and in the 36th minute, a penalty was awarded after Dani Olmo was fouled by Barrios, bringing the score to 1-1. However, when it came time for Lewandowski to take the kick, his shot soared high into the stands, far from the goal, leaving fans and commentators astounded.
Wojciech Kowalczyk, responding to the miss, remarked, “The ball flew into space after Polak’s shot.” Fellow commentator Sebastian Staszewski echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Lewandowski’s run-up style had not been effective in this instance. Meanwhile, Mateusz Ligęza from Radio ZET characterized the attempt as the worst penalty of Lewandowski’s career.
Going into this match, Lewandowski had already made 162 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 109 goals and providing 21 assists. Despite this recent struggle with penalties, he remains a pivotal player for the team, showcasing his skill and potential to bounce back from these challenges in future matches. The hope is that Lewandowski will soon regain his confidence and find his scoring touch on set pieces, which will ultimately benefit Barcelona as they continue to compete for honors this season.