Flick hails 'unbelievable' Lewandowski after 100th Champions League strike

BARCELONA - Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Robert Lewandowski's goalscoring feats were "unbelievable" after the striker passed a century of Champions League goals on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old forward rolled home an early penalty in the 3-0 win over Brest to reach the milestone, adding a second late on with a tidy finish to complete Barcelona's victory, which took them provisionally second in the standings.

Former Bayern Munich forward Lewandowski is only the third player to reach a century of goals in the competition, behind all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo (140 in 183 games) and Lionel Messi (129 in 163 games).

"I'm not so good at statistics, I think after Messi and Ronaldo he's in third place now with the most goals, and it's unbelievable," said Flick.

"I know him two years from Munich, there he also broke every record you can break and now he's also scoring... it's important for us."

The Poland international was clattered into by Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot for the spot-kick, which he converted clinically to put Barca ahead after 10 minutes.

Lewandowski sealed Barcelona's victory with a well-taken second, manoeuvering well in the box before rolling home.

The striker's 101 Champions League strikes have come in 125 appearances in the competition, for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and Barcelona.

"I am very happy. Many years ago I did not think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League," Lewandowski told Movistar.

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain great Messi hit his 100th Champions League goal in 123 games, while former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star Ronaldo's came after 144 games.

Lewandowski has won the Champions League once, with Bayern in 2020, as well as finishing a runner-up with Dortmund in 2013.

Under Flick the veteran forward's form has improved significantly this season, reaching 22 goals in 19 appearances between La Liga and Europe. - AFP