"The Portuguese defender, currently on loan, delivered a complete display at left-back. He was sharp in possession, aggressive in pressing, and intelligent in his positioning. His impact did not go unnoticed, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that his performance has now placed real pressure on Alejandro Balde, who suddenly finds his starting spot under serious threat. The young academy graduate is experiencing something unfamiliar - real competition."
"In Barcelona's last two La Liga fixtures, Balde has not started. Against Girona, he was introduced late and against Levante, he did not leave the bench. For a player who had previously enjoyed consistent minutes when fit, this is a clear change in hierarchy. Hansi Flick made a deliberate tactical choice by pushing Cancelo to the left side instead of rotating elsewhere in defence."
Joao Cancelo delivered a complete display at left-back, demonstrating sharp possession, aggressive pressing, and intelligent positioning. His performance has placed real pressure on Alejandro Balde and introduced genuine competition for the starting role. Balde did not start Barcelona’s last two La Liga fixtures, being used late against Girona and remaining on the bench versus Levante, marking a clear change in hierarchy for a player who previously enjoyed consistent minutes. Hansi Flick deliberately deployed Cancelo on the left to add control via his ability to drift into central areas. Balde has shown flashes of inconsistency, though his market value and external interest remain high and there are no plans to push him out.
Read at Barca Universal
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