Robert Lewandowski News

Barcelona secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday to move back top of La Liga. Aritz Elustondo's early red card gave Hansi Flick's side a comfortable afternoon with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the scoresheet. Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis.

Robert Lewandowski's revival has been a key to Barcelona's strong start to life under Hansi Flick as the striker returns to Dortmund to face Borussia in the Champions League on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Pole has netted 23 goals in 21 games across all competitions this season, taking Barcelona top of the Spanish league and up to third in the European standings. They lead last year's Champions League finalists Dortmund, who like Barcelona have four victories from five games, on goal difference before their meeting in Germany.

Robert Lewandowski struck twice as in-form Barcelona thrashed Red Star Belgrade 5-2 to stay in the upper echelons of the Champions League group table on Wednesday.

Spanish champions Barcelona this season but the emergence of teenage starlet Lamine Yamal is the clearest. The 16-year-old winger could prove crucial in the Champions League last 16 second-leg clash with Napoli on Tuesday at the club's temporary Olympic Stadium home. Yamal became the youngest player ever to feature in the Champions League knock-out stages as he impressed in the 1-1 first-leg draw in the south of Italy.

La Liga table, FC Barcelona will clash with 10th rank Rayo Vallecano to square off and move ahead in their campaign. Barcelona defeated Deportivo Alaves 2-1 at home in their last match. Robert Lewandowski scored both goals. On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano lost to Girona FC 2-1 at home in its most recent match on November 11. Alvaro Garcia scored the only goal for Rayo Vallecano.

Xavi Hernandez is cautiously optimistic that he will be able to count on his top player, forward Robert Lewandowski, for Saturday's Clasico against arch-rivals Real Madrid. After facing serious injury problems in the last few weeks with up to seven players out, Xavi got good news on Friday as Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Pedri participated in training before the big game. Defender Jules Kounde and midfielders Pedri and Sergi Roberto have been ruled out, but Lewandowski, De Jong and Raphinha are ahead of schedule in their recoveries and all signs point to last year's LaLiga top scorer being fit to start against Real. «I can't reveal the line-up right now, but (Lewandowski) is fine and I'll make my decision tomorrow,» Xavi told a press conference. «It's complicated (to take risks with injured players) and in the end only those who are 100% will play tomorrow.» Xavi, who had to call up eight academy players for the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, praised the club's young talent for delivering at the highest level. Barca secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Shakhtar thanks to a brilliant display by 20-year-old Fermin Lopez, who is becoming a regular in the first team alongside teenagers Lamine Yamal and Marc Guiu. «The homegrown players give us something extra. They work hard, they know the importance of tomorrow's game and what it means for our people,» Xavi said. «There are more nerves, more emotions, but you have to control them.

Barcelona is all set to play Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday in UEFA Champions League Group H match on Wednesday. Barcelona are at the top of the group with six points from two matches. Shakhtar Donetsk are at the third place with three points from two matches.

Lionel Messi, and Christiano Ronaldo in the list.  Despite India's popularity as a huge market for football tourism, India has not been able to shed its tag of being a cricket-crazy nation. Neither has the Indian Football team made a mark during the carnivalesque FIFA World Cups.  However, that has never ruined Chhetri's spirit, who led his country to a modest Inter-continental Cup and SAFF Championship over last three weeks.  The 38-year-old soon to be a parent goal machine has 93 strikes from 142 matches - the top two positions belonging to Cristiano Ronaldo (123 goals from 200 caps) and Lionel Messi (103 from 175).

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the seventh time on Monday, extending his record, as Alexia Putellas became the third winner of the women's award.