Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice in his side’s 5-2 Champions League victory over Crvena zvezda on Wednesday. The 36-year-old struck either side of halftime, leading Barça into the top eight of the Champions League’s nascent ‘league phase’.

On a personal level, Lewandowski also closed in on an important milestone. That brace in the Serbian capital takes him to 99 Champions League goals, a tally bettered only by two players in the history of the competition.

No prizes for guessing the identity of that history-making duo...

Lewandowski was substituted in Wednesday’s win, denying him the opportunity to reach three figures with a hat-trick. However he won’t have long to wait before he can bring up the century; Barcelona are back in Champions League action later this month with a home game against Brest (November 26).

Lewandowski and Flick continue productive relationship

The Polish striker has been in incredible form this season, after looking like age was finally catching up with him at points last year. Lewandowski is one of a number of Barcelona players who looks rejuvenated under new head coach Hansi Flick, having previously worked alongside him at Bayern Munich.

Leading the line for Flick’s all-conquering 2019/20 Bayern team, Lewandowski scored 55 goals in 47 appearances as the Bavarian giants won a historic continental treble.

“What Hansi Flick is doing is incredible, not only with me, with everyone,” Lewandowski said after the recent El Clásico win. “Every player feels comfortable with Hansi Flick, we showed that today. We understand each other, even without words.”

“Most importantly, the way we play as a team. We’re much stronger offensively, we score more. Even if you’re in difficult form, your teammates have an idea to solve the situation,” he added.