Key reason behind Flick’s half-time change of Barcelona defender vs Albacete | OneFootball

Barcelona advanced to the Copa del Rey semifinals after a tight 2-1 win over Albacete, but not every decision from Hansi Flick paid off on the night. 

One of the biggest talking points from the quarter-final was the performance of January signing Joao Cancelo, who was handed a starting role at right-back but failed to complete the match.

Flick opted to rest Jules Kounde, opening the door for Cancelo to make an impact. 

The Portuguese full-back arrived in January with the expectation that he would immediately raise the level on the flanks.

So far, though, his integration has been gradual. 

Before this match, Cancelo had featured in three games, including a short appearance in the league defeat to Real Sociedad and a start in the home win over Oviedo, both times operating on the left side of defence. 

The clash with Albacete marked a different test, with Flick trusting him on the right.

Did not convince Flick

Cancelo was unconvincing against Albacete. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

In the attack, Cancelo showed glimpses of his quality, as he frequently supported Lamine Yamal down the flank. However, defensively, he found the game far more complicated.

Albacete wing-back Dani Bernabeu targeted his side, forcing Cancelo into several uncomfortable situations. 

Just 15 minutes into the match, the defender was booked after a poorly timed challenge as he tried to stop a counterattack. The early yellow card immediately put him under pressure for the remainder of the half.

Matters nearly worsened a few minutes later, as Cancelo mistimed another challenge in midfield during a 50-50 duel, a moment that could easily have resulted in a second yellow card. 

The referee judged the action to be accidental, allowing him to stay on the pitch until the break.

Flick, however, had seen enough. Unwilling to risk a red card and a possible collapse on that flank, the manager made a decisive change at half-time. 

Cancelo was withdrawn, Pau Cubarsi was introduced, and Eric Garcia shifted to the wing to stabilise the defence.