Robert Lewandowski finding form at the right time for Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski has been the subject of much criticism ever since returning from the World Cup almost two seasons ago. The Lewandowski that returned was much different than the one who left in terms of scoring numbers

Those struggles continued entering this season where questions began springing up about his future as well rumors linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Since the turn of the new year, however, Lewandowski has once again become a crucial component of Barcelona's attack.

In Barcelona's 3-0 win against Atletico Madrid over the weekend, Lewandowski scored the team's second goal and provided the assist for the first and the third. His stellar performance earned the praise of Xavi Hernandez.

Lewandowski may have played his best match since becoming a Barça player," Xavi said. "We may have played out best game of the season. We are in our best moment and we can dream, we are not ruling anything out, that's what I told the players."

With Lewandowski in the form he's currently in, Barcelona can indeed dream. They can dream of getting back in the race for LaLiga, at the very least finishing second, and of getting past PSG in the Champions League.

With his goal and assist on Sunday, Lewandowski became LaLiga's top player in terms of goal contributions with 20 (13 goals and seven assists), ahead of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Girona's Artem Dovbyk. Furthermore, he became the first player involved in three goals in the same game against Atletico Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016.

As far as what's contributed to not only his recent run of but also the team, he had an answer for that.

"I think in the last two, three, four weeks we have changed our training a little, with more intensity," Lewandowski said. "Physically, now I also feel very good. My teammates, the same I believe. We want to take a step forward. We have a couple of weeks now with the international break, we want to take another after that, This moment is very important. We want not only to win, but play better."

Against Atletico Madrid, they mixed in their style of play as well as being more direct to come away with the resounding win with Lewandowski contributing one way or another.

With Lewandowski leading the line alongside the emergent Lamine Yamal, Barcelona, as Xavi said, can dream of ending the season with silverware.