Bundesliga
Robert Lewandowski: "Sometimes scoring goals is tough"
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed that scoring goals isn't as easy as he's led the football world to believe.
Lewandowski, 33, has plundered 23 goals in 17 competitive appearances for Bayern in 2021/22, including a Bundesliga-leading 13 and tournament-best eight in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Despite that sizeable addition to his 55 competitive goals during Bayern's 2019/20 treble-winning campaign and Bundesliga single-season record 41 last term, the 2021 Ballon d'Or front-runner admits he's still adapting his game under new head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Watch: All 13 of Robert Lewandowski's Bundesliga goals of the season so far
"It's not been easy for me of late getting goal-scoring opportunities or finding my place out on the pitch," Lewandowski - the reigning FIFA Best Player and European Golden Shoe winner - said prior to Poland's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain.
"It's not easy for a striker when you play with six attack-minded players and the opposition defence sits so deep. In the last few games, I've needed time to find space and get the ball. And even when I did, it was still really tight.
"Of course, we carve out chances sooner or later, but it's not so easy for me. Sometimes it's tough, but I know I have to be patient."
The waiting game has served Lewandowski undeniably well. He's scored six times across his last four Bundesliga outings alone, netted at least once in all four of Bayern's Champions League Group E fixtures and only failed to fire in three appearances since Nagelsmann replaced 2020 sextuple mastermind Hansi Flick as coach.
Averaging a goal every 63 minutes, LewanGOALski has helped propel Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga and through to the Champions League last 16 with room to spare. The record champions have hit a record 40 goals after 11 rounds of Bundesliga fixtures, and are one shy of breaking their own best-mark for most top-flight goals in a calendar year.
If Lewandowski doesn't bring up the milestone 101st goal, you can bet your bottom dollar the 102nd or 103rd will have his name all over it. He might even account for all three in one fell swoop, given his ongoing tally of 17 goals in 21 appearances against upcoming opponents Augsburg. And he'll no doubt make it look as easy as pie.