Who knows what would have happened on Tuesday had João Cancelo not scored. Hansi Flick and Barcelona fell behind early in Istanbul after a deflected strike from Aleksey Batrakov. Shortly after, the hosts doubled their lead, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Galatasaray were in control, but then Cancelo stepped up.
The left-back had already forced a fine save out of Uğurcan Çakir in the 25th minute, cutting inside and unleashing a fierce swerving shot that the Turkish goalkeeper pushed wide. This time, though, Cancelo left Çakir with no chance, curling the ball beyond his reach to pull level. Just like that, Barcelona snatched the momentum.
That was the defining moment, as Barcelona stormed on to win 4-1 on the road. Galatasaray's Rafael Leão, who plays with Cancelo for Portugal, admitted as much in a post-game interview with CBS Sports, stating that his goal shook Galatasaray's game after a strong start from the Süper Lig side. The goal was far from Cancelo's only contribution on the night.
The Portuguese full-back caused problems for Galatasaray's defense time and time again, linking up with Anthony Gordon and cutting inside onto his right foot. He deserved at least one assist, putting the ball on a platter for Gordon and later Karim Adeyemi, but both times the wingers failed to convert. Only Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo completed more passes on the night.
Cancelo was partially at fault for the opener, slipping initially before he deflected Batrakov's shot past Joan Garcia and into the net as he tried to recover. Still, aside from that misfortune, he was effective in defense on a night when Barcelona needed him to be, winning six duels in total.
There's a reason that Barcelona brought Cancelo, now 32, back this summer for a third stint with the club. He's never been the best defensive full-back in the world, and his attacking production has slipped since his prime when he played under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Still, he's an incredibly valuable player.
Few would have guessed a few years ago that Cancelo would still be playing a crucial role for Barcelona in 2026. Cancelo was well-liked during his loan spell in the 2023/24 season, but it seemed that Alejandro Balde was the future of Spain and Barcelona at left-back, while Jules Koundé was set to emerge at right-back. Both remain at the club, but Cancelo seems to have surpassed both once again.
The Portuguese international is Barcelona's first-choice left-back in the Champions League, playing all ninety minutes against Feyenoord and Galatasaray. He has not let Flick down, recording a goal and an assist as Barcelona won the two matches by a combined score of 9-2. In La Liga, meanwhile, the young Xavi Espart has been trusted, limiting Cancelo to just two starts.
Balde, meanwhile, is entirely out of the equation. The left-back has played a total of twelve minutes this season and has been left as an unused substitute eight times. After breaking out with Barcelona as a teenager and playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it seems that his time with the club has sailed its course.
So how did Cancelo, a veteran many assumed to be past his prime who joined from Saudi side Al-Hilal, manage to carve out a key role with a famously youth-heavy side, surpassing the likes of Balde in the process?
A big part of it is his experience. Barcelona have dominated La Liga under Hansi Flick, but have paid for an inexperienced backline in the Champions League. Without Cancelo, Barcelona's backline consists of two teenagers, Espart and Pau Cubarsí, and Eric García and Gerard Martín, who are 25 and 24, respectively. Barcelona need the experience of Cancelo, the second-oldest player in the squad, on Champions League nights.
In addition to his experience, he's a versatile player, able to play both left-back and right-back as well as further up the pitch when needed. Flick likes flexible full-backs, with Espart also able to play both sides, and Cancelo could be called upon to play on the right at some point this season. His connection with the club can't hurt, either, as the Portuguese star is loved by the fans and clearly is enjoying his time in Catalunya.
However, the main reason is the simplest, and was on display against Galatasaray: even at 32, Cancelo is an elite attacking full-back.
On the right, Barcelona rely on a more defensive profile, whether that is Koundé or, increasingly, Eric Garcia. That's because Lamine Yamal does enough in attack and, with a more natural defender behind him, has less of a defensive burden. On the left, though, Barcelona are free to use a more attacking profile, and Cancelo is their man.
You may not find a more technically gifted full-back in the world than Cancelo. His passing ability and shooting unlock a whole new level of Barcelona's attack, particularly against stingy defenses. When Galatasaray sat lower, Cancelo took shots from range; when the Turkish side left space behind, Cancelo unlocked it with crosses and well-placed through-balls.
In the end, Flick's side came away with the 4-1 win, keeping a remarkable 100% record for the season. Cancelo did not get the same praise as other stars after the game. Cancelo is not put in world-class conversations anymore or acknowledged as one of Barcelona's best players, but whether he gets the same recognition or not, he may be one of the most important players for Flick this season.
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