Lewandowski is slammed as 'unrecognisable' after Barcelona's shock defeat

Spanish media slammed Robert Lewandowski as an 'unrecognisable' figure after Barcelona slipped up in the title race during Sunday's shock defeat against Leganes.

Hansi Flick fumed on the touchlines as his squad stumbled for the second consecutive league clash that sees Atletico Madrid move level on points and rivals Real Madrid now only one point adrift.

Leganes arrived at the Nou Camp chasing points that would put valuable distance between themselves and the relegation zone, but admittedly didn't expect to walk away with a victory.

Sergio Gonzales handed the visitors a shock lead just four minutes into the encounter, but many expected Barcelona to hit back with so long left in the match. They didn't, and Leganes departed having inflicted a damaging blow on the Catalan club's title hopes.

Barcelona tested Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic just four times throughout the match and was largely let off by Lewandowski proving lame in front of goal before being substituted.

The Polish superstar is LaLiga's top scorer this season with 16 goals in the Spanish top-flight, but has scored just once in his last four appearances and was again ineffective against Leganes.

Lewandowski had chances to fire Barcelona back on level terms and then in front on Sunday but was uncharacteristically wasteful, eventually being hooked by Flick in the 66th minute.

Spanish publication Marca slammed the 36-year-old's performance against the LaLiga minnows, stating afterwards: 'It's unrecognisable. It's hard to believe what's happening to the Pole.

'Again he went to the bench early with 25 minutes to go. Nothing to object to. The Pole missed against Leganes, very clear chances unbecoming of the top scorer of the competition,' they added.

However, it wasn't just Lewandowski who found himself in the firing line as Barcelona slipped to a fourth league defeat of the season - more than any other team in the top five - with further ruthless criticism slamming the team's all-round output.

Frenkie de Jong's drop in form was particularly scrutinised as the former Manchester United target was left on the bench having started just one league fixture all season.

'Lewandowski has disappeared in recent games, Raphinha tries, Olmo too... but they did not go beyond that,' Marca scathed.

'Ferran [Torres] this time was not revulsive as in the previous matches; Gavi offers strength and that's it and Frenkie de Jong didn't even play.

'The Dutchman is beginning to be the great mystery of this team. Barça are not reacting and are starting to raffle for the lead.

'Atletico Madrid have already tied them on points. An inexplicable drama,' the publication added.

Meanwhile, Barcelona will be able to relax in the knowledge that they are set to avoid the Champions League playoffs having reached the automatic knockout spots in the competition's league phase.

But, a top-of-the-table clash against title challengers Atletico Madrid next weekend could prove to have a huge outcome on the LaLiga race.