João Cancelo: Bayern Munich finally fill the Philipp Lahm void

In João Cancelo Bayern Munich have added one of the world's best right-backs for free, filling a hole the club has been unable to plug since Philipp Lahm has retired.

It took just 17 minutes to highlight why Bayern Munich had signed João Cancelo. The 28-year-old won the ball in the middle of the pitch, dribbled to the byline, and then produced a pin-point cross that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting volleyed home for the 1-0 lead against Mainz in the round of 16 of the DFB Pokal. 

Bayern added another two in the first half thanks to goals by Jamal Musiala (30’) and Leroy Sané (43’). Then in the second half, Alphonso Davies made it 4-0 with a rare header (83’). Although the result was perfect and will paint over the cracks that have appeared in Bayern’s game, the performance was far from perfect, and a better opponent might make things a bit more difficult. 

The game, however, also conveniently illustrated why Bayern jumped at the opportunity to sign Cancelo when he became surprisingly available last weekend after a fall-out with Man City boss Pep Guardiola. The same Guardiola, by the way, who described Cancelo as the best full-back he had worked with since he coached a certain Philipp Lahm.