Robert Lewandowski moved to tears during guard of honor in final home match; 3-1 victory over Real Betis seals historic 100% home record for Spanish champions.
It was an afternoon where the celebration of a trophy took a back seat to the departure of a legend. Robert Lewandowski bid an emotional farewell to the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on a highly decorated four-year chapter with Barcelona as the newly crowned champions defeated Real Betis 3-1.
The 37-year-old striker, who announced over the weekend that he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, was the undisputed focal point of the afternoon. Captaining the side for his final home appearance, Lewandowski was visibly moved throughout the match, fighting back tears as a giant banner reading “Robert, everything started with you” was unfurled across the stands.
When his number went up in the 85th minute, the entire stadium rose for a thunderous standing ovation. His teammates swarmed him on the pitch before his family joined him on the grass after the final whistle. The squad then formed a guard of honor, lifting the veteran forward into the air to the chants of his name echoing around the arena.
“For me, this has been a very emotional and very difficult day,” Lewandowski told the crowd during a heartfelt post-match speech. “When I arrived in Barcelona, I knew that this club was big. Thanks to your love and support, I have had an incredible time. Today I say goodbye to the stadium, but I will always carry Barcelona in my heart.”
Since transferring from Bayern Munich for €45 million in 2022, Lewandowski has proven to be an invaluable pillar for the club, netting 119 goals and lifting three LaLiga titles. Reports indicate that the club offered him an extension on reduced terms, but the striker opted to explore new horizons after losing his status as an undisputed starter under manager Hansi Flick this season. Rumors suggest strong interest from suitors in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and elsewhere in Europe.
Manager Hansi Flick, who previously guided Lewandowski to a Champions League title at Bayern Munich in 2020, expressed immense gratitude for the forward’s immense contribution to the Catalan giants.
“I think it was a perfect goodbye for him,” Flick said in his post-match press conference. “You can see his heart is here, with this club, with the people. I just have to say, ‘Thank you, Robert.’ He gave us really fantastic, unforgettable moments. We will miss him. He is not only a world-class player, but a fantastic person.”
While Lewandowski was unable to find the back of the net himself, a brace from Raphinha and a late strike from João Cancelo proved more than enough to cancel out a second-half penalty from Betis midfielder Isco.
The 3-1 result holds massive historical weight for the club. The victory ensures that Barcelona finishes the domestic campaign with a perfect 19 wins from 19 home games in the league. Under the modern 20-team format, it is the first time in the history of LaLiga that any club has achieved a 100% home winning record over a 38-game season.
“It is the perfect season at home, this is fantastic,” Flick added, praising the passionate atmosphere. “The connection with the fans… It’s amazing to play here.”
Lewandowski will lace up his boots for Barcelona one final time next weekend when the Spanish champions travel to face Valencia in the season finale.
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