'Offensive style has disappeared' - Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski claims La Liga referees are letting 'dirty' football thrive

Barca sit top of La Liga, leading fierce rivals Real Madrid due to their head-to-head record, and are aiming to win back the title this season, but the Polish striker feels their job has been made more difficult due to the "excessive" challenges their opponents are allowed to commit.

Lewandowski also believes Spanish football is going through a transformation, with more defensive football becoming popular in a league once famous for prizing technique and an attacking style.

"I understand that teams try to hinder us in some way, but sometimes referees allow it too," he told Barca One. "They always tell us there are limits, but they use them in strange ways; you never fully understand where those limits are. I think they should promote more attacking football. Sometimes referees allow us to play not so much in a harsh way, but in a more dirty way. Those fouls that are grabbing... If someone plays hard, it's acceptable, but if they grab you, stop you, or throw you to the ground, it's a bit excessive in my opinion."

Taking aim at the change in style, Lewandowski added: "I expected to find a more technical league, but after a few games, even a few months, I realized it couldn't be compared to years past. Now there are many teams that play very defensively, that try to commit fouls, disrupt players, and that attacking style of play has disappeared a bit. Before, a lot of goals were scored, not just by the big teams, but in general. I've noticed that La Liga has become more physical."

Despite his trouble with the physicality of other teams, Lewandowski has netted an impressive 22 goals in 26 appearances in the league this season, making him the division's top scorer. He will hope to improve on that record when they take on Osasuna next week.