Robert Lewandowski has seen nights like this before. The mistakes. The pressure. The weight of expectation.
On a freezing Wednesday in Prague, with temperatures at minus 8 degrees Celsius, the 37-year-old experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum. He scored an own goal. Then he responded with the strike that sealed Barcelona’s 4-2 victory.
His 106th Champions League goal came on his seventh appearance this season. Marcus Rashford drove down the left flank in the 70th minute and delivered a cross that Lewandowski initially miscued before reacting quickly to volley home.
At 37 years and 153 days old, he became the second-oldest Champions League scorer for a Spanish club. Only Sergio Ramos was older when he netted for Sevilla in December 2023.
A Historic Night of Contrasts
Lewandowski’s own goal in the 44th minute could have broken a lesser player. Stepan Chaloupek flicked on a corner, and the ball deflected off Lewandowski’s shoulder into Joan Garcia’s net. He became the first Barcelona player to score at both ends in a Champions League match.
The Polish captain has now scored against 39 of 49 opponents faced in Europe. That surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo (38 of 52). Only Lionel Messi has more (40 of 44).
Fermin Lopez Stars in Prague
Fermin Lopez delivered a breakthrough performance with two goals in eight first-half minutes. The 21-year-old dragged Barcelona back after Vasil Kusej’s early opener for Slavia.
His first came from a near-post finish following Frenkie de Jong’s through ball. His second arrived when Slavia defenders gave him space on the edge of the box. He took a couple of touches before firing into the top corner.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fermin Lopez | 2 | 0 | 8.3 |
| Dani Olmo | 1 | 0 | 7.8 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 1 | 0 | 7.2 |
Pedri Injury Adds Concern
Pedri left the field in the 60th minute with an injury. Dani Olmo replaced him and needed just three minutes to hammer an unstoppable strike into the top corner, restoring Barcelona’s lead at 3-2.
Standings and Statistics
The result lifts Barcelona to 9th with 13 points from seven matches. Slavia Praha remain third from bottom with three points.
| Statistic | Slavia Praha | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 42% | 58% |
| Total Shots | 20 | 20 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 12 |
| Pass Accuracy | 75% | 84% |
Lewandowski’s 15th consecutive season with a Champions League goal extends his remarkable consistency. Only Ronaldo (140) and Messi (129) have more goals in the competition’s history.
Barcelona host Copenhagen next week with qualification still to be secured. The victory in Prague keeps their top-eight hopes alive.
For Lewandowski, the own goal will fade from memory. The winning strike will not.
