João Cancelo did not arrive in Barcelona this winter with the idea that he would be playing every minute that matters. Yet a few weeks after leaving Saudi Arabia behind, that is more or less where things stand. Alejandro Baldé’s thigh injury in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg has forced Hansi Flick into that situation, at least for the time being. The academy full-back will be out for several weeks, leaving the boss to reshuffle the back line.
Cancelo has taken over the left side in recent matches, including tough away games and critical knockout ties. Thankfully, he has settled in a bit more recently. Still, questions remain about his consistency and his ability to defend. The Portuguese needed a bit of time to get going after arriving from Al-Hilal. The pace of the games and Flick’s aggressive defensive line were an adaption for him.
That’s changing, of course. He has started four of Barça’s last five matches and, aside from a brief rest against Villarreal before the Copa clash with Atlético Madrid, he has been on the pitch from start to finish. There have been flashes going forward too. Cancelo assisted goals against Levante and Atlético, reminders of why Barcelona were interested in bringing him back to European football.
The night against Atlético ended up marking a strange turning point. Cancelo played well, arguably his best performance since returning. The same match also cost Barcelona two defenders when Jules Koundé and Baldé both pulled up with muscular problems.
Flick suddenly had very few options left, and Cancelo plays both on the left and right of the defense.
The trip to San Mamés came first. Barça defended solidly and left with a clean sheet, something that had been hard to come by in previous weeks. A 1-0 win did not blow anyone’s minds, but it got the job done for what could’ve been a tricky away trip. The visit to Newcastle was far more chaotic. The English side repeatedly pushed the ball toward Anthony Elanga, looking to isolate him against Cancelo.
Elanga kept running, and Cancelo kept chasing. At times it worked, at times it didn’t. One clear chance ended with Barcelona keeper Joan Garcia winning a one-on-one that could have changed the night. The goal Newcastle eventually scored arrived from that same side, though Ronald Araújo was the one who ended up exposed in the box.
Known as an attacking fullback through and through, Cancelo’s profile has always carried a certain tension. Technically gifted, comfortable stepping inside or pushing high, he can be a weapon when attacking. The defensive side, on the other hand, tends to bring moments of uncertainty, especially when the line is pushed high.
Barcelona were close to leaving the game with nothing, but a last-minute penalty earned them a valuable draw.
“The problem is that they were not able to control the ball and, without controlling the ball, they did not control the game,” said former blaugrana striker Pichi Alonso on Esports COPE while discussing the performance in England.
The schedule probably has something to do with that. The Copa semifinal against Atlético had demanded a lot from the squad only days earlier, and several players have been dealing with physical discomfort since. According to Alonso, the team “does not give the impression of being in good physical condition,” especially when facing a side like Newcastle, who in his words have an “incredible physical form.”
There’s all to play for in that tie, and lots left to do in La Liga as well.