Barcelona have been dealt another painful blow, and this one stings right before El Clasico.
Robert Lewandowski has reportedly been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, meaning the Polish striker will miss the high-voltage clash against Real Madrid later this month.
The 37-year-old picked up the injury while on international duty with Poland during their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
Ironically, he played the full 90 minutes and even found the back of the net — but complained of discomfort afterward. Back in Barcelona, scans confirmed the bad news: a muscle tear in his left thigh.
Barcelona released a statement confirming the injury, saying:
“Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury in his left thigh. He will be sidelined, and his recovery time will depend on how the injury progresses.”
That’s club language for “don’t expect him back anytime soon.”
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When can Robert Lewandowski return?
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According to [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20251014/1002550156/lewandowski-rompe-pierde-clasico.html), the expected recovery period is four to six weeks, ruling Lewandowski out of some crucial fixtures — including the El Clasico trip to the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26.
He’s also set to miss the upcoming La Liga clash with Girona and Champions League tie against Olympiacos.
If his rehab runs long, games against Elche, Club Brugge, and Celta Vigo could also come too soon. That’s a worrying list for manager Hansi Flick, who already has a packed injury room featuring Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Joan Garcia.
It’s turning into a full-blown fitness crisis for Barça — and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. With Real Madrid sitting top of the table, Barcelona’s title hopes could take another hit without their veteran striker leading the line.
For now, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford are expected to share attacking duties, while Lamine Yamal could be handed more minutes.
Not quite the trio you’d expect to see in an El Clasico, but football loves its plot twists.
Lewandowski, who scored 42 goals across all competitions last season, will be eager to return quickly — though Barca fans might prefer he doesn’t rush it.
After all, hamstring injuries are the kind you can’t play through, no matter how many goals you’ve scored.
Games missed by Robert Lewandowski due to injuries for FC Barcelona
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Season
Injury
From
Until
Days Out
Games Missed
Club
2025/26
Muscle fiber tear
14/10/2025
18/11/2025
36 days
6
FC Barcelona
2025/26
Muscle injury
08/08/2025
21/08/2025
14 days
1
FC Barcelona
2024/25
Muscle injury
19/04/2025
05/05/2025
17 days
5
FC Barcelona
2024/25
Lumbar vertebra problems
10/11/2024
20/11/2024
11 days
—
FC Barcelona
2023/24
Ankle injury
05/10/2023
27/10/2023
23 days
—
FC Barcelona
2022/23
Hamstring injury
27/02/2023
11/03/2023
13 days
2
FC Barcelona
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