In numbers: €9m-rated Barcelona star puts in a humongous shift against Rayo Vallecano – Opinion | OneFootball

FC Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo did not leave the Rayo Vallecano game with the same attention as Ronald Araujo or Joan Garcia, but his performance may have been one of the most demanding of the afternoon. This was not a pretty full-back display built around highlights.

It was a hard-working, all-action game full of carrying, tackling and constant involvement. It is not something you usually associate with the Portuguese international, which is what makes it even sweeter from a club perspective.

Stats from SofaScore confirm the eye test. Start with the assist. Cancelo created Barcelona’s winning goal and finished with 1 assist, 0.25 xA, 1 big chance created and 2 key passes. For a defender in a tight 1-0 game, that is serious attacking production.

The crossing volume tells its own story too. He attempted 5 crosses, even if only 1 found its target, which shows he kept trying to stretch Rayo and give Barca another route forward. That persistence matters in matches like this, especially when the game starts getting sticky.

On the ball overall, Cancelo was heavily involved. He had 64 touches and completed 26 of 30 passes, an 87% success rate. More importantly, he was not just recycling possession safely. He completed 15 of 18 passes in the opposition half and carried the ball with purpose throughout the game.

That carrying data is where the performance really comes alive. Cancelo made 21 carries, 5 of them progressive, covering 193.9 metres in total and producing 134.4 metres of progression. His progressive carrying distance alone was 75.3 metres, with his longest progressive carry reaching 19 metres.

Those are the numbers of a player dragging the team up the pitch. From a Barcelona perspective, that is hugely valuable against an opponent like Rayo, who try to make games fast, physical and fragmented. Then there is the defensive side, and this is where the shift becomes humongous.

Cancelo made 6 tackles and won all 6 of them. He added 2 interceptions, 2 clearances and 6 recoveries, while also winning 11 of 18 ground duels and both of his aerial duels. Yes, there were a few untidy moments. He was dribbled past twice and registered 1 error leading to a shot. That can definitely be written off.

Cancelo was not flawless, but he was everywhere. Assist, progression, tackles, duels, recoveries, he gave Barcelona one of those displays that look even better once you break the numbers down. It is re-assuring to see this sort of defensive display from him.

The hope is that the €9m-rated Barcelona star continues to be astute defensively because his attacking output has never been in doubt. Let’s wait and see if Cancelo can keep his form after the international break.