Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland have arguably been the two most lethal goalscorers of the 2020s so far – and the numbers bear that out.

There’s 12 years difference between the two strikers, with 34-year-old Lewandowski surely set to start winding down in the coming years while 22-year-old Haaland is well on course for a wildly prolific and successful career ahead.

The pair of goalscorers spent a couple of years as rivals at two of the Bundesliga’s biggest clubs. When Haaland arrived at Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, Lewandowski had already established himself as one of the best strikers in the history of German football – second only, in fact, to Bayern Munich legend Gerd Muller.

Haaland was still just a teenager when he signed for Dortmund midway through the 2019-20 campaign but had already proven himself one of the most promising players of his generation. He’d scored 29 goals in 27 appearances for Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg, including an unthinkable eight in his first six appearances in the Champions League.

The Norwegian instantly lived up to the hype in an iconic debut for Dortmund, scoring a hat-trick in the space of 20 minutes after being introduced as a substitute. He turned the game in a 5-3 victory over Augsburg.

But Bayern, powered by the goals of Lewandowski, continued to dominate domestically. They’ve since made it to 10 successive Bundesliga titles, while the Polish striker was their star man during their treble-winning campaign of 2019-20 – Lionel Messi later admitted he deserved the Ballon d’Or for his exploits that season.

Bayern actually attempted to sign Haaland as a long-term successor to Lewandowski, but the rising star chose Manchester City instead.

“If I try to imagine how Lewandowski thinks…” Haaland said in the Haaland: The Big Decision documentary.

“I don’t know how many goals and titles he has for the club. Then I do actually feel a little sorry for him. At the same time it’s a chance for him to take the next step in his career. It feels disrespectful, but at the same time it is an opportunity for him”

Lewandowski has since departed for Barcelona, and the two players have each made ridiculous goalscoring starts for their new clubs – it would be a major shock to see anyone else challenge them for the European Golden Shoe this season.

But how do the two players compare? We’ve gone back to the turn of the decade, January 2020, when Haaland signed for Dortmund, to compare their goalscoring records for their respective clubs.

Erling Haaland

Games: 97
Starts: 87
Sub appearances: 10

Goals: 98
Assists: 24

Penalties scored: 12

Minutes per goal: 80.1
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 91.3
Minutes per goal or assist: 64.4

Double figures 🙌@ErlingHaaland 1️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/pD4E2f2sfb

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 3, 2022

Robert Lewandowski
Games: 114
Starts: 111
Sub appearances: 3

Goals: 132
Assists: 26

Penalties scored: 22

Minutes per goal: 74.4
Minutes per non-penalty goal: 89.3
Minutes per goal or assist: 63.01

Speaking in an interview with Tot Costa on Cat Radio, Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite paid tribute to his former Barcelona teammate, Ousmane Dembele.

The 31-year-old Denmark international left the Blaugrana last summer, opting to join local rivals Espanyol after negotiating the termination of his contract with Xavi Hernandez’s side.

Braithwaite did not leave Barcelona on the fray as he was at odds with the fans as well as the club due to his reluctance to leave after being told he was no longer part of the squad.

While things have soured between player and club, Braithwaite still holds great respect for his former teammates, singing on Ousmane Dembele, even stating that the winger could be a bigger difference-maker for Barcelona than Robert Lewandowski.

“Dembele is very good. I love him so much. He has a great talent. I’ve never seen someone as talented as this boy. Leo Messi is another thing, but after him I haven’t seen any player like Dembele. The boy is special.”

“Dembele’s individual talent has a greater impact than that of a player like Lewandowski, individually. Ousmane is unbelievable. A good player and a good person.”

At the same time, though, Braithwaite also had words of praise for Lewandowski, praising Barcelona’s newcomer nature in front of goals.

“Lewandowski scores a lot of goals, I’m happy for him, he’s a great professional. I wish him all the best to have a very good season, but now I’m looking forward to winning at Espanyol.”

Braithwaite joined Barcelona from Leganes in February 2020 as an emergency signing after a string of injuries at the Camp Nou. He made 58 matches with the Blaugrana, in which he scored ten goals. Since joining Espanyol, he has already scored once on his debut.

Barcelona are renowned for bringing exciting young starlets through the club’s famed La Masia youth academy and look to have yet another very special talent on their hands.

Lamine Yamal, who has already been called up by Xavi for first team training this season, scored a double on his debut for Barcelona’s Under-19 side on Saturday, September 10.

The youngster has opened his account at the age of 15 years, one month and 28 days, beating the previous record held by another special Barcelona talent, Ansu Fati.

Fati went straight from the Under-19 team to the first team at Barcelona, never playing for the reserve side, but only scored his first goal for Juvenil A at the age of 15 years, 10 months and eight days.

https://twitter.com/Nyctophile1_/status/1568652370355142656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1568652370355142656%7Ctwgr%5E15a10c436084a1e6098bad989a8f402e3ad02a0b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com%2Fsports%2Ffc-barcelona%2Fwonderkid-beats-ansu-fati-scoring-record%2F

Yamal actually ended the game with two goals. The teenager scored Barca’s third in a 5-0 win over CD Ebro and his performance will undoubtedly add to the excitement surrounding the player at Barcelona.

⌚️ Min 77: GOOOOOL DEL JUVENIL A!! (5-0)

⚽️ Doblet de Lamine Yamal!#FCBMasia 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/oYsTaXUxfY

— FC Barcelona – Masia (@FCBmasia) September 10, 2022

The teenager is already considered one of the most exciting prospects at La Masia, while it has been reported that Xavi is already “in love” with the teenager’s quality and potential.

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Why Is Yamal So Special?
Yamal has already been likened to Fati and Lionel Messi and is a versatile, tricky attacker. The teenager can play at center-forward or out wide and clearly has an eye for goal. He’s currently featuring with players far older which makes his achievements even more impressive.

🎥 Lamine Yamal Highlights

💭 How long till we see him in the first team?

✍️ @Nyctophile1_

pic.twitter.com/ISgTsBamJd

— Barça Spaces (@BarcaSpaces) September 4, 2022

Marca have already dubbed Yamal Barcelona’s ‘mini-Messi’ although comparisons with the club legend are not helpful and will only heap unnecessary pressure on the youngster’s shoulders.

Yet Barcelona will be thrilled if Yamal can follow in the footsteps of Messi and Fati and go on to star for the first team. Fati is still only 19 but already holds a host of records for the Catalan giants.

📊 — Ansu Fati's records:
– The youngest player to score a double in the League.
– The youngest player to score in the Champions League.
– The youngest player to score in the League.
– The youngest player to score with Barcelona in the League. [md]

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) February 4, 2020

Fati’s career has been disrupted by injury in recent seasone but the teenager remains one of the club’s brightest talents and Barca will be hoping he can stay fit and get back on track in 2022-23.

Barcelona certainly don’t lack for quality forwards with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha having arrived in the summer to bolster the attack. Fati has spoken to TUDN about the new signings and feels the competition for places is a positive sign.

“It’s true that we have many forwards, but I think that is a good thing. We all have to be ready to start from the bench in some matches, and be ready to come on at any moment. I know that I can’t relax, and it motivates me,” he said. “We all know how good Lewandowski and Raphinha are. Competition is good. The season is long and we all have to be ready to play.”

There’s no doubt competition for places is fierce but Fati has already proved there’s a path into the first team from the youth set-up at Barcelona which should offer Yamal plenty of motivation.

Paris Saint-Germain was reportedly in the mix this summer transfer window for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva. However, the 28-year-old remained with the Premier League side.

Along with PSG, Silva was also linked to FC Barcelona and the Portugal international, but they’re hoping to push for the Manchester City star when the January transfer window opens.

On Friday, Sport reported that Barcelona would have made a concerted offer to sign the 28-year-old in the summer were it not for their difficulties in enlisting their other new signings due to financial constraints.

The Spanish giants intend to revive their efforts to bring him to Camp Nou as soon as possible. The report doesn’t mention whether PSG would revisit its interest in Silva.

Nonetheless, with Neymar Jr. performing at a high level to start the 2022-23 season, it’s unlikely that a move is made in the January window for Silva from PSG, considering they have a front three that already includes Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Barcelona has an important ally in Deco, who has already facilitated the integration of Rafinha this summer. The former Barcelona player, also from other clubs such as Porto or Chelsea, has become one of Joan Laporta’s trusted men, and an important advisor for the arrival of promising Brazilian talent. Now, he did not think twice before recommending the appointment of another citizen.

His name is Vanderson, and he plays in Monaco. At the Camp Nou they have really good reports about him, and in fact they actually thought about signing him, before Hector Bellerin was closed down. They ruled out his relegation only a few weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in him, and won’t take their eyes off him. Because he showed huge potential, considering he was able to settle at Stade Louis II at just 21 years old.

He could be a good complement to the right wing, as there is currently only a player from Badalona and Sergi Roberto, which is not guaranteed, although they enjoy the confidence of Xavi Hernandez. And we should not forget about Sergio Dest, who went on loan to Milan, but the plans are to move him, and get a figure of close to 20 million euros. Therefore, if something complicates, in a few months they will study the arrival of another right-back.

Several options have been discussed, such as Thomas Meunier, of Borussia Dortmund, but the one that seems to convince Laporta the most is the one that stands out for Vanderson, which Deco personally recommended. He believes he has what it takes to succeed at Barcelona, ​​and become the new Dani Alves, and his progress since joining LaLiga in January from Gremio de Porto Alegre has been remarkable.

They have invested 11 million euros, an amount that has already been amortized, with a market value of about 20 “million euros”. Roughly, that’s the number they’ll call to let them leave.

Real Madrid are also interested in Vanderson
Another reason for Deco to quickly introduce Vanerson to Barcelona is the pressure that Real Madrid can apply. Because Florentino Perez is also looking for a new right wing rift, Dani Carvajal calls for a collateral replacement, who can discuss ownership.

In Barcelona, ​​they will have to fight with the eternal rival to close the appointment of the footballer from Monaco, which may be one of Tite’s surprises in inviting ‘Brazil’ to the World Cup in Qatar.

Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez praised the newcomer Lewandowski ، After his amazing performance with the Catalan team in the last period

Lewandowski has scored eight times in just five games for the Catalan giants following his transfer from Bayern Munich. Xavi was asked about the Poland international at a news conference and made it clear how much he’s enjoying coaching the attacker, as reported by Diario AS.

“I wouldn’t change him for the world,” he explained. “He helps the young players a lot with his advice and his humility. He does us a lot of good.”

Lewandowski has started all of Barcelona’s matches so far in 2022-23, but Xavi was not ruling out resting the Poland international for the team’s next game against Cadiz in La Liga on Saturday, September 10.

“Tomorrow we will decide. Many things will influence the decision, but he is very important,” the coach added.

Barcelona head to Cadiz and will be expected to beat Sergio Gonzalez’s side. However, Cadiz have a good record against the Catalans and are unbeaten in their last four meetings in La Liga.

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Barcelona Out For Revenge
Xavi did speak about Saturday’s opponents and admitted it will be a tough test, particularly as Cadiz are yet to score or even take a point from their first four matches of the season.

The Barcelona boss thinks the team’s disappointing start to the campaign will add to the hosts’ motivation on Saturday at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.

“They are a different defensive rival, who have always complicated us with two defeats and two draws. Let’s go for soccer revenge,” he said. “That they have not scored is worse, they will come out more plugged in. A field where leagues are won. They will make it very difficult for us.”

Cadiz head into the game bottom of the table in Spain’s top flight and off the back of a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo last time out.

Xavi Talks Improved Defense
Xavi has plenty of firepower he can use against Cadiz with Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele, and Ferran Torres all fit and in form. However, the coach also pointed to his team’s improved defense as key to Barca’s good start to the season.

he club have again been forced to offload players during the 2022 summer transfer window, to release funds to sign new stars, and register club contracts.

Despite high profile talks to reduce first team contracts, and pressurised release of squad players, Barcelona are still fighting to stay on the right side of La Liga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

Their ability to finally complete all outstanding summer business was greeted with relief within the club hierarchy but Tebas believes the situation could repeat itself in 2023.

“Barca has to keep on reducing their wage bill”, as per reports from Marca.

“Next year there will be no financial levers, and they will have to reduce their salary limit, which will be around €400m.

“We’ll see what arises from the further sale of players. But, it will be very difficult for them to maintain this situation next season.”

Speaking in an interview on Cat Radio’s Tot Costa program, RCD Espanyol forward Martin Braithwaite has lavished praise on his former Barcelona teammate, Ousmane Dembele.

The 31-year-old Danish international left the Blaugrana this past summer, opting to join local rivals Espanyol after negotiating the termination of his contract with Xavi Hernandez’s side.

Braithwaite did not leave Barça on good terms as he had a falling out with the fans as well as the club due to his reluctance to leave after being told he was no longer a part of the team.

While things might have soured between the player and the club, Braithwaite still holds his former teammates in high regard, as he waxed lyrical over Ousmane Dembele, even stating that the winger can be a bigger difference-maker for Barcelona than Robert Lewandowski.

“Dembele is very good. I like him a lot. He has a huge talent. I have never seen someone with his talent. I’m serious. Leo Messi is something else, but after him, I haven’t seen any player like Dembele. The boy is special.”

“Dembele individual talent has more impact than that of a player like Lewandowski, individually speaking. Ousmane is incredible. A good player and a good person.”

At the same time, though, Braithwaite also had words of praise for Lewandowski, lauding the Barcelona new arrival’s prolific nature in front of goals.

“Lewandowski scores a lot of goals, I am happy for him, he is a great professional. I wish him all the luck so that he has a very good season, but now I am looking to win at Espanyol,” he said.

Braithwaite had joined Barcelona from Leganes in February 2020 as an emergency signing after a series of injuries at Camp Nou. He made 58 appearances for the Blaugrana in which he netted ten goals. Since joining Espanyol, he has already scored once, on his debut.

Lamine Yamal, aged 15, is now the youngest player to feature for Barcelona’s Juvenil A side in the UEFA Youth League. The teenage forward got his chance during the team’s 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen U-19 on matchday 1 of the tournament.

The 15-year-old came on as a substitute for Angel Alarcon Galiot during a double change in the 64th minute. He managed to have one shot on goal, but his attempt was successfully blocked by the opposition keeper.

It must be noted that Yamal was one among ten other players from the subsidiary who completed a training session with the senior team at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper following a convincing 3-0 win over Sevilla.

Days after training with a few first-team regulars, the 15-year-old made a substitute appearance in a UEFA Youth League game and his coach, Oscar Lopez was left impressed with the teenager’s approach.

“He’s always asking questions, he has a very good predisposition to evolve. We have to take care of him with calmness and not rush him,” Lopez told journalist Albert Roge.

For now, although Barcelona’s objective is to keep using Yamal for the Juvenil A team, one cannot underestimate the fact that training calls from Xavi will be frequent from hereon.

As of today, Yamal cannot sign a professional contract with Barcelona until July 13, 2023; when he turns 16. Hence, there are suitors waiting to pry on the given opportunity but Barcelona wil do everything in their power to protect their young one.

In that regard, sporting director Mateu Alemany does not really want any surprises and is hence looking to avoid any future mishap. This means the adaptation of the first professional contract agreement is already in pipeline and by the time Yamal turns 16, he will have the papers ready for him.

Lionel Messi is in the final year of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and has been heavily linked with a potential return to Barcelona next summer after having left the club in 2021 under disappointing circumstances.

PSG, for their part, are planning to offer him a new contract to ensure that he stays at Parc des Princes beyond the summer of 2023. However, in case the Argentine superstar decides to part ways, the French champions are drawing up contingency plans involving yet another Barça star.

Indeed, as reported by Futbol Total, PSG are lining up a summer swoop for Antoine Griezmann, who is currently away on loan at Atletico Madrid from Barcelona, as a replacement for Messi.

The Parisian giants would be willing to shell out a humungous salary worth around €35-40 million (gross) per season in order to lure the French international back to his homeland before the start of the next campaign.

Griezmann has been on loan at Atletico since last season. The Rojiblancos have an obligation to pay €40 million and sign him permanently next summer should he play for at least 45 minutes in more than 50% of the matches he is available for across the two seasons.

While Atletico wish to keep him, they are reluctant to match the €40 million price tag and hence have been using him for 30 minutes or less this season, trying to exploit a loophole which would allow them to get out of the obligatory purchase.

Barcelona had been considering taking legal actions against Atletico due to their tactics, but the Rojiblancos are not breaking any rule by their handling of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.

PSG’s entry into the picture, however, could change a lot of things. While the next summer transfer window is still some way away, Griezmann’s situation could be one of the major headliners when it comes along.