João Cancelo, the Portuguese player in the ranks of Barcelona, showed an exceptional level during his team's match against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, confirming that his signing in the winter was not a mere coincidence.

Cancelo revealed in a press statement on his second presentation day with the club that he stopped all other offers as soon as Barcelona contacted him, and that he felt a great emotion when starting his second phase as a player with the Catalan club.

Cancelo participated in the match as a left-back, but he delivered a remarkable offensive performance, as Opta data showed that he was the second-best player in successful dribbles with 4 out of 7 dribbles, behind Lamine Yamal who recorded 7 dribbles. He also stood out in ball recoveries, recording 7 recovered balls, surpassing the majority of his teammates, coming behind Pedri who recorded only 8.

On the level of defensive interventions, Cancelo was also effective, winning two interventions he was involved in, and two fouls were committed against him, while he was caught offside once.

Cancelo's balanced performance indicates that the Catalan team has made a strong addition in the left-back position, with a player capable of contributing to both the forward and defensive lines with the same effectiveness, which enhances the coach's options in upcoming matches.

Mundo Deportivo newspaper also highlighted that this performance reflects the confidence the club places in the Portuguese player and confirms that the criticisms that targeted Barcelona's signing of him in the winter did not affect his technical abilities, but rather increased his determination to deliver the best on the field.