Barca strikers firing blanks as Villarreal visit

Barcelona will welcome in-form Villarreal to their home ground on Saturday with the goal of strengthening their lead at the top of La Liga, even as worries persist over the performances of forwards Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Manager Hansi Flick has alternated between the experienced Polish striker and the young Spaniard up front this term, yet neither has truly shone.

The ex-Bayern Munich star Lewandowski, now 37, has seen a sharp drop in his abilities this year alongside some injury troubles, whereas Torres, aged 25, is heading towards a career-high goal tally, though the bulk arrived during a hot streak late last season.

The Catalan club clearly faces challenges at the back, with rivals increasingly targeting their aggressive defensive line, but in the previous campaign they netted sufficient goals to compensate and secure a treble of domestic honours.

Wide players Lamine Yamal and Raphinha rank among the elite in their roles globally, but the central forward selected by Flick between them has faltered in 2026.

Torres has managed only three strikes in his past 15 outings in all tournaments, and his broader involvement is subpar, as he fails to aid in possession phases for Barca and often squanders the ball.

Lewandowski has netted five times in his last 18 matches, appearing less agile than formerly and sometimes marginal on the pitch.

"Given the packed schedule, switching strikers makes sense, and I believe both Ferran and myself can thrive in this setup," Lewandowski shared with Polish outlet Pilka Nozna recently.

"Playing full games every three days means your life revolves around recuperation, but now things feel more balanced. I am fatigued yet not exhausted."

Barca remain the highest scorers in La Liga with 67 goals, drawn from various sources across the team 10 players have hit at least a brace, and no one exceeds Torres tally of 12.

In stark opposition to Barcas main attackers, Real Madrids Kylian Mbappe, hampered by an ongoing knee injury, tops the La Liga charts with 23 goals and the Champions League with 13.

"Mbappe ranks as the top forward globally," Flick conceded back in January. "He has racked up countless strikes and stands as a top-tier talent."

Flicks team hold a one-point advantage in La Liga before Villarreal arrives. Madrid, trailing by a point, face Getafe on Monday.

The German boss has rarely deployed England star Marcus Rashford centrally, preferring the on-loan Manchester United player on the left flank.

That said, with Raphinha back in form post-injury, Rashford could reconsider and see the lone striker role as his route to increased playing time.

Rashford has made an impact for Barca this season, mainly through creativity with 13 assists compared to his 10 goals in 34 appearances over all competitions.

Benefiting from a break as other clubs contest Champions League qualifiers, Flick expects the upcoming lighter period to refresh his squad.

"These two weeks are vital for us to recharge slightly while preparing for the Villarreal clash, which promises to be challenging," Flick noted.

"Following that, we aim for games every three or four days, making this pause essential."

Villarreal sit 10 points adrift of Barca at the summit, and while title aspirations have faded, an upset win at Camp Nou could spark renewed ambition.

Player to watch: Pablo Fornals

Ex-West Ham playmaker Fornals, 30, is having what may be his finest campaign yet with Real Betis, who entertain local foes Sevilla on Sunday. The Spanish international struck first in the seasons initial derby, helping Betis to a 2-0 road victory they hope to build upon at home.

Key stats

8 - matches without victory for Espanyol

9 - red cards in La Liga for Getafe defender Djene Dakonam since joining, ruling him out against Real Madrid

10 - goals by Atletico Madrid forward Alexander Sorloth in 2026 in all competitions

Fixtures

Friday (all times GMT)

Levante v Alaves (2000)

Saturday

Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Bilbao (1300), Barcelona v Villarreal (1515), Mallorca v Real Sociedad (1730), Real Oviedo v Atletico Madrid (2000)

Sunday

Elche v Espanyol (1300), Valencia v Osasuna (1515), Real Betis v Sevilla (1730), Girona v Celta Vigo (2000)

Monday

Real Madrid v Getafe (2000)