August 13, 2022, Spain, Goalless in the first game: Robert Lewandowski
Which: dpa/Joan Monfort
A dream debut looks really different. Robero Lewandowski, celebrated in Barcelona after moving from FC Bayern, experienced a sobering first competitive game at the Camp Nou stadium.
WWorld footballer Robert Lewandowski has made a disappointing debut for FC Barcelona in the Spanish championship. The Catalans, with the former FC Bayern striker, were unable to get beyond a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano at the start of the league on Saturday evening. After the nail-biter for his permission to play, Lewandowski was in the starting line-up and played for more than 90 minutes, but without a sense of achievement.
In the gripping final phase alone, the 33-year-old Pole, who had driven up to the Camp Nou in a green Bentley with Munich license plates, had several chances to score the winning goal. In the 82nd minute, Lewandowski’s shot from 14 meters narrowly missed the left post, and a little later an attempt to take a direct shot after a shot by ex-Dortmund substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went wide.
Fifteen minutes before the end, the team with German national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen unsuccessfully called for a penalty kick after Lewandowski was slightly pulled in the penalty area. Vallecano earned the point with a self-sacrificing fight in defence. In injury time, Barça veteran Sergio Busquets saw the yellow-red card.
Game approval at the last minute
Only the evening before, after another deal worth millions, the Catalans had received last-minute league play permits not only for Lewandowski, but also for the other newcomers Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie and Raphinha. This also applied to Ousmane Dembélé and Sergi Roberto, whose contracts had been renewed.
Barça had previously announced that the club had sold 24.5 percent of the shares in Barça Studios to Orpheus Media for 100 million euros in the fourth campaign of this kind.
No getting through for Lewandowski
Quelle: Getty Images/Alex Caparros
