Last season, FC Barcelona had a fantastic campaign. They won all three domestic titles: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, in addition to reaching the Champions League semi-finals. This great year was, in part, thanks to the incredible statistics of their attacking trident: Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha.
This season, however, it's surprising that the Barcelona forwards have only been able to play together for 38 minutes, spread across two matches. All three have suffered injuries that have kept them sidelined for periods of time, preventing them from showcasing their on-field chemistry. These matches took place on Matchday 2, where Barcelona faced Levante at the Estadi Ciutat de València (2-3), where they played together for 21 minutes, and on Matchday 3, against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas (1-1), where they shared the pitch for 17 minutes. In these two matches, it's also worth noting that none of them started, and in both, it was Robert Lewandowski who came off the bench to help the team.
These figures contrast sharply with those from last season, where, during the first 16 matches (the same number played this season), the Barcelona attacking trio started 14 of them. Furthermore, their goal contributions are also lower than last season. Lewandowski scored 19 goals and provided two assists; this year, he has only scored seven goals and has no assists. Spanish star Lamine Yamal is the only one who is somewhat close to last season's numbers, with four goals and five assists, compared to six goals and eight assists last year. Raphinha is the furthest from the 2024/25 season's figures. The Brazilian has only scored three goals and provided two assists, figures that contrast sharply with the 12 goals and 10 assists he achieved at this stage last season.
It's worth noting that both the number of goals contributed and the minutes played together have been affected by the injuries suffered by all three players. Lewandowski has missed four matches so far this season, the fewest of the three. Lamine Yamal has missed seven, and Raphinha nine.
Today's match will offer the first opportunity, since Matchday 3, to see all three attackers in the starting lineup, although it seems we'll have to wait until another game, as Hansi Flick is expected to leave Raphinha out of the starting eleven, assuming he maintains his policy of returning from injury.