The trip of FC Barcelona to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague in the Champions League offers the team of Hansi Flick a chance to bounce back to winning ways as soon as possible, after a [disappointing 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad](https://semprebarca.com/three-talking-points-as-barcelona-inexplicably-lose-1-2-to-real-sociedad-in-la-liga/) at the weekend.
The Champions League comes with a number of challenges for the Catalan club, who desperately need to win their remaining two games to skip the play-offs and go directly to the round of 16. Even two wins do not guarantee it.
Losses to PSG and Chelsea and a draw against Club Brugge have not helped Barcelona’s standing in the League Phase table. However, if they win their remaining two games resoundingly, a top-eight finish remains a realistic possibility.
For the game against the Slavists, Hansi Flick needs to get his starting line-up spot on. It is not going to be easy considering the absence of Lamine Yamal through suspension and Ferran Torres through injury, which is why the German manager has a well-rounded squad.
We at Sempre Barca believe that Hansi Flick should really start Robert Lewandowski as the number nine against Slavia Prague. The [€9 million-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/robert-lewandowski/profil/spieler/38253) Polish veteran has seen his prominence in the team diminish this season.
Ferran Torres has usurped him to become the starter in most games, but Flick still trusts Lewandowski for the big occasions, as seen in the Spanish Super Cup final. The Pole also showed that he still has it in his locker to score against the best.
In Barcelona’s remaining two games, they need a hatful of goals as well as three points, and there is no one in the squad who knows better than Robert Lewandowski how to put the ball in the back of the net.
The combination of Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez worked well against Real Sociedad, even if it did not result in goals, and Flick could be tempted to start the former as a false no. 9 against the Red and Whites, but he should resist that temptation.
Despite getting on in age and his legs no longer cooperating as they once did, Lewandowski continues to defy the odds and has hit double digits again this season, despite fewer minutes. He will have a significant influence against Slavia Prague, and let us hope Flick decides to go with him in the starting line-up.