Breaking Down Robert Lewandowski's Performance for Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona

Bayern Munich were able to salvage some respect in the Champions League on Wednesday night when they came from behind to beat Barcelona 3-2 in the second leg of their semi-final tie, in front of the Allianz Arena faithful. 

Although Pep Guardiola's side were ultimately defeated in a rather comfortable fashion over the course of the two games, there was a notable jump in quality from the Munich club once they had the Spanish giants in their own back garden. 

A number of players proved they still had time and quality left on the biggest of stages—Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm in particular—yet nobody was quite as impressive in the Bavarian colours than striker Robert Lewandowski. 

Alongside an equally impressive Thomas Muller, the Polish international was the undoubted focal point of every Bayern attack and proved just how synchronised Guardiola's side can be when the attacking players are all singing from the same song sheet. 

As well as that, Lewandowski proved his unquestionable worth as one of the world's greatest forwards in the manner in which he not only played through his teammates but also in his ability to create something from nothing. 

WhoScored

The 26-year-old's goal in the 59th minute was a masterclass in physical strength and dazzling ball control, as Lewandowski turned on the spot and coolly jinked past a mesmerised Javier Mascherano. Add to that the inch-perfect finish off the left post of Marc-Andre ter Stegen's goal and you have one of the most complete goals in the past five years of Champions League football. 

"Complete" is certainly the most appropriate word to describe the forward's performance on the night. If we take a look at the WhoScored.com graphic above—which depicts Lewandowski's touches on the pitch throughout the 90 minutes—we can see just how well the striker did to find space and always be available to receive the ball into feet. 

Also, this may seem rather obvious—surely strikers are expected to make themselves available for a pass?—but we can't overlook just how useful such a role was in compensating for absolutely no wing play from Bayern on the night. 

Without Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the pitch, Bayern had very little quality on either wing aside from Muller. A player who, despite starting most games on the right-hand side of attack, often prefers to wander inside and play as a second striker. 

Without any real wingers, the only other attempt to get the ball to the front line was to go direct with long balls or indeed play through the middle of the park. The former can be done with any decent target man but only a truly skilled centre-forward can hold the ball up through the middle of the park and indeed grab goals too. 

WhoScored

Although the performance on its own is worthy of the highest praise, it becomes even clearer how vital Lewandowski was on Wednesday night when we compare it to how he did in the first leg when he was far from fully fit or indeed in an ideal situation to playing a game of football. 

Again using WhoScored, we can see from the graphic above Lewandowski's touches on the ball at the Camp Nou last Tuesday and just how less frequent they were throughout the game. 

Compared to this week's stats we can see that the Bayern striker was neither allowed to focus his game more prominently in front of the Barcelona box or indeed get on to the ball nearly as much in the first leg as he was in the second. 

Although the three goals and the well-earned victory was won through a collective team effort from Manuel Neuer right through the side, it simply can't be overlooked the difference that Lewandowski could offer between the two games that played a large part in how Bayern were able to take something from the tie. 

Bayern's Champions League campaign may now have ended but such a win allows them to leave the competition with their heads held high. With Lewandowski, more than any other, proving just how close they may have come to overcoming their Spanish opponents if they had been fit and ready. 

Follow @sbienkowski