Why isn’t Robert Lewandowski playing for Barcelona in Derbi Barceloni against Espanyol in La Liga?

Robert Lewandowski is usually the first name fans expect to see when Barcelona takes the field, especially on a night as charged as the Derbi Barceloni.

Robert Lewandowski is usually the first name fans expect to see when Barcelona takes the field, especially on a night as charged as the Derbi Barceloni. Yet as the league leader prepares for its first La Liga match of 2026 away against Espanyol, one absence has dominated the pre-match discussion. Lewandowski is not in the starting lineup.

...