Barcelona sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after beating Napoli over two legs – and loanee from Manchester City Joao Cancelo put in a solid performance.
The Spanish giants have reached the last eight for the first time in three years, after getting past the Italian giants 4-2 on aggregate.
Barca and Napoli played out a 1-1 draw a couple of weeks ago in Naples, which set up a tasty second leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Stadium.
Many fans tipped Napoli to dump Barca out when the two teams were drawn together, but it is Barca who have gone through to the quarters.
And one man who played his part in last night’s 3-1 victory for Barca was Joao Cancelo…
Joao Cancelo shines for Barcelona as he joins Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals
Cancelo started at left-back last night for Barca, with Jules Kounde operating on the right side.
It is a position the Portugal international is no stranger to, having been deployed there often by Pep Guardiola down the years at the Etihad. Xav has also played him there several times this season.
Cancelo actually got himself a goal last night.
Barca had taken the lead through Fermin Lopez and just minutes later, City full-back Cancelo doubled the Spanish giants’ lead.
Yamine Lamal drove forwards and fed Raphinha down the left side. The Brazilian unleashed a fierce drive which crashed against the post.
Cancelo followed up and actually had a fair bit to do. But he kept his head down and produced a clinical side-footed finish.
Napoli pulled one back through Amir Rrahmani, but Robert Lewandowski’s goal late in the second-half ensured Barcelona’s victory.
Cancelo had a good outing overall. Goal reported that he was ‘dangerous on the left wing, even if he did overplay on a few occasions’ and that he ‘did his job defensively, too’. They gave him 7/10 for his display.
Sofascore data indicates that Cancelo easily contested the most duels in the match with 17, winning eight of those which was the most of any player. He also made eight defensive actions – only Pau Curbasi made more (9).
Cancelo could face Manchester City
This was a decent outing for Cancelo, who continues to prove himself as an attacking full-back.
The 29-year-old – who is open to turning his move to Barca permanent – could now potentially face his parent club in the quarter-finals.
£250,000-a-week star Cancelo – whom Barca are ‘increasingly confident’ of signing’ – can play against City should the teams be drawn together in the next round, as there are no laws prohibiting loan players from facing their parent clubs in European competitions.
Of course last season, City met Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage, and Cancelo had been loaned to the German giants in January 2023. He came on as a substitute in the first leg and started the second.
One gets the feeling he would very much like to face his old club once again.
