PURPLE PATCH: Welcome to our new blog series identifying sportstars who are enjoying standout moments in their career. This week we are looking at Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, ahead of their Champions League Semi-Final clash with Barcelona.
Robert Lewandowski’s season-long purple patch
Could there have been a worse year for the Ballon d’Or to be cancelled for Robert Lewandowski than the 2020 edition?
A sublime 2019-20 campaign for the Polish striker has seen him become the most lethal finisher in Europe and his goals spur Bayern Munich on to becoming arguably the best side on the continent.
A stunning season has led to Lewandowski netting a remarkable 57 goals for club and country in just 50 appearances and he can still add to that tally. Bayern remain in the hunt for this year’s Champions League, facing Barcelona in a mouth-watering quarter-final tie on Friday night, where the Germans are the favourites at 2.0, with Lionel Messi and Co. available to be backed at 3.75.
Lewandowski’s fine domestic campaign saw him notch a league-leading 34 goals as Bayern secured an eighth straight Bundesliga title by 13 points, while he netted six more en route to the Bavarians lifting the DFB-Pokal to seal a domestic double.
That double could become a treble if Bayern can go the distance in the Champions League.
In Lewandowski they have the competition’s top scorer this season with 13 goals. He is in quite the purple patch, with those strikes, as well as a further four assists, coming in just seven appearances – taking him up to 66 Champions League goals in total across his career, a record only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Raul Gonzalez.
In Lewandowski’s current form, he will certainly fancy his chances of landing the Champions League’s Golden Boot this season and in inspiring Bayern to go all the way, with his side available to be backed at 4.4 to lift the trophy.
But unfortunately for Lewandowski, he won’t be getting his hands on the Ballon d’Or anytime soon.