Hansi Flick backs Lewandowski’s farewell start against Real Betis

Robert Lewandowski will start Barcelona's final home game of the 2025/26 La Liga season against Real Betis, and Hansi Flick used the build-up to make the farewell the main story. The Barcelona manager said the striker deserves a special send-off, and he made it clear that the end of the season is also the beginning of a rebuild.

Lewandowski has scored 18 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions this season, with 13 of those coming in La Liga in 30 league matches. That is a decent return, just not the kind of peak output that would make the farewell feel sentimental for sentimental reasons alone. Flick’s point was simpler than that: he has worked with Lewandowski for four years, and they have won nine titles together.

Why Flick is already talking about a rebuild

The line about the next season mattered more than the ceremonial stuff. Flick said it was a privilege to work with Lewandowski, called him an incredible professional and a role model for young players, then added that it may be good for the club because it is how they will restructure the team. That is a fairly blunt way to frame a farewell, but it fits the moment. Barcelona are not just waving off a senior forward, they are also signalling a change in how the squad will look.

There is still a football reason for the occasion beyond sentiment. Barcelona can become the first La Liga side to win all of their home games in a season if they beat Betis, and they are already confirmed as champions before kick-off. Flick called it an objective, which is about right, because a perfect home league record is the kind of detail that gives a title-winning season a cleaner finish.

Barcelona's home run is 15 from 15 in La Liga, so the task is straightforward enough. If they beat Betis, Lewandowski’s farewell comes in the middle of a perfect league record at home, with a title already secured and a squad conversation already starting around him.

Team news still shapes the Betis picture

Flick’s squad update was not just about Lewandowski. Frenkie de Jong is out because he is not feeling well, Marcus Rashford is still a late call, and Andreas Christensen could get a few minutes. Flick also said the team that faces Betis will be different from the one that played Alavés.

Rashford’s loan season has produced 8 La Liga goals in 31 appearances, so his fitness remains relevant even in a match that already carries enough narrative weight. De Jong’s absence removes one regular midfield option, and Christensen’s possible minutes hint at Flick making small changes rather than treating the game like a dead rubber.

The Betis fixture matters because of what Barcelona could do at home, but the bigger takeaway is how directly Flick is using Lewandowski’s farewell to talk about the next phase. If the striker starts as expected, the final home game becomes both a send-off and a preview of what Barcelona are planning next season.