BSS
  27 Nov 2024, 10:29

Flick hails 'unbelievable' Lewandowski after 100th Champions League strike

BARCELONA, Nov 27, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Robert
Lewandowski's goalscoring feats were "unbelievable" after the striker passed
a century of Champions League goals on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old forward rolled home an early penalty in the 3-0 win over
Brest to reach the milestone, adding a second late on with a tidy finish to
complete Barcelona's victory, which took them provisionally second in the
standings.

Former Bayern Munich forward Lewandowski is only the third player to reach a
century of goals in the competition, behind all-time top scorer Cristiano
Ronaldo (140 in 183 games) and Lionel Messi (129 in 163 games).

"I'm not so good at statistics, I think after Messi and Ronaldo he's in third
place now with the most goals, and it's unbelievable," said Flick.

"I know him two years from Munich, there he also broke every record you can
break and now he's also scoring... it's important for us."

The Poland international was clattered into by Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot
for the spot-kick, which he converted clinically to put Barca ahead after 10
minutes.

Lewandowski sealed Barcelona's victory with a well-taken second, manoeuvering
well in the box before rolling home.

The striker's 101 Champions League strikes have come in 125 appearances in
the competition, for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and Barcelona.

"I am very happy. Many years ago I did not think I could score more than 100
goals in the Champions League," Lewandowski told Movistar.

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain great Messi hit his 100th Champions League
goal in 123 games, while former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus
star Ronaldo's came after 144 games.

Lewandowski has won the Champions League once, with Bayern in 2020, as well
as finishing a runner-up with Dortmund in 2013.

Under Flick the veteran forward's form has improved significantly this
season, reaching 22 goals in 19 appearances between La Liga and Europe.