Two faces of Cancelo

With his aggressive play and the decisive pass that led to Robert Lewandowski's goal, Joao Cancelo played the role of a "playmaker" from the Barcelona defense.

In the match against Atletico Madrid on April 5th, Cancelo was not simply a full-back. He operated as an organizing midfielder, contributing to shaping how Barcelona built up play from their own half.

According to data from Opta and WhoScored , Cancelo touched the ball 85 times, among the highest in the team. His pass accuracy was nearly 88%, demonstrating consistency in ball distribution. But his greatest value lies in how he distributes the ball. Both key passes created scoring opportunities from situations where he cut inside, playing the role of a left-sided number 8.

Instead of staying wide, the Portuguese player frequently moved into the center of the pitch. There, he connected with the midfield and executed creative plays. Three successful dribbles helped Cancelo escape the pressing and stretch Atletico's defensive structure.

Cancelo delivered an outstanding performance in attack against Atletico Madrid.

His crossing ability was also maintained with 5 crosses, 2 of which found teammates. However, Cancelo is not the type of player who plays it safe. He takes risks in exchange for creating breakthroughs.

This was evident in the 14 turnovers – a high number for a defender. The majority resulted from handling the ball in tight spaces or situations where Barcelona needed extra time to hold onto the ball. When they lost possession, Barcelona immediately faced the risk of counter-attacks, especially on the left flank – an area Cancelo frequently left unguarded.

In terms of defense, he had 2 successful tackles but was also dribbled past 3 times. These numbers reflect the trade-offs in the role Cancelo takes on.

The match against Atletico Madrid clearly showed Cancelo's true nature. He is a "playmaker" originating from the defense, bringing rare creativity to Barcelona, ​​but also carrying tactical risks. When controlling the game, Cancelo becomes the key to unlocking the team's style of play. Conversely, just one moment of losing possession is enough to cost the team dearly.

Source: https://znews.vn/hai-bo-mat-cua-cancelo-post1640931.html