Barcelona veteran’s record at La Ceramica makes strong case for starting role against Villarreal | OneFootball

Barcelona’s final game of 2025 will kick off later today at Estadio de La Ceramica against one of La Liga’s most in-form teams at the moment – Villarreal.

The Yellow Submarines currently sit in third place on the league standings, and deservedly so given that they have only lost two of their 15 games so far this season.

Heading into the clash, however, Villarreal are on the back of two consecutive defeats in the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey, respectively, handing Barcelona the right circumstances to inflict a third defeat.

The striker’s record

As the kickoff at the Ceramica nears, it is impossible to ignore the statistics of Robert Lewandowski at the famed venue over the years, for he has always struck gold against them.

The Polish striker has played thrice at the venue, the first of which came back in 2022-23 when he assisted the only goal in Barcelona’s win, which was scored by Pedri.

Robert Lewandowski has been a menace for Villarreal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

One year later, Barcelona won by a 4-3 margin against Villarreal, and Lewandowski was on the scoresheet as he scored in the 71st minute to complete the comeback and bury the win.

When the two teams met at the Ceramica most recently in September last year, the veteran scored two goals in the 20th and 35th minutes and then hit the woodwork with a penalty in the 67th minute.

All in all, Lewandowski’s record stands at three goals and an assist in three games against Villarreal away from home – all of which ended in wins.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that he has not been a regular starter this season, with Ferran Torres often replacing him in the lineup.

It will thus be interesting to see if Flick prioritises the player’s record against Villarreal enough to hand him a start later today.