“Penalties are taken by whoever feels like it. The players decide,” Hansi Flick explained on Wednesday night how the team manages when they have a shot from 12 yards. What is clear is that Lewandowski is no longer the first choice. In the last two games, against Sevilla and Newcastle, Barcelona have had three penalties with the Pole on the pitch, but it was Lamine Yamal and Raphinha who took responsibility
The Brazilian took both penalties that Barcelona were awarded against Sevilla on Sunday, despite Lewandowski being on the pitch. Lamine, meanwhile, was on the bench. In fact, the Pole has not taken a penalty since he missed against Atletico Madrid last December. This season he has missed two, against Simeone’s side and at the Sanchez-Pizjuan
Since December, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have alternated responsibility for the kicks. The last one was last Wednesday against Newcastle. The Brazilian won the penalty and, although at first it seemed that he was going to shoot, he handed the ball to the Rocafonda winger. Lewandowski did not even go near the penalty spot.Raphinha has taken five penalties this season. In three of them, the Pole was on the pitch, but it was the winger who took the lead. He has a full house of successes. In fact, throughout his career he has converted 17 out of 18. The youth player, for his part, has six shots (he has converted five), all without Lewandowski on the pitch, except for Wednesday’s
Now we will have to see if the two goals scored by the Polish international against the English team in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 have given him a moral boost, and if he will take responsibility from the penalty spot next time
14 penalties in favour
This season, across all competitions, Barcelona have been awarded 14 penalties. Lamine Yamal is the player who has taken the most, with a total of six, followed by Raphinha with five and Lewandowski with three. The Catalan side have converted 11 of the 14 penalties.
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