## Al Hilal: Cancelo's Assist Statistics and Impact on Team Performance

Since joining Al Hilal from Manchester City in August 2023, João Cancelo has transformed into one of Asia's most potent offensive weapons, with his creativity and delivery from wide areas becoming central to the Saudi Pro League champions' attacking rhythm. His primary contribution comes through assists – he leads **all defenders** in both total chances created (xG chain) and actual assist tallies across major European leagues and international competitions this season. For Al Hilal alone, official stats credit him with **14 direct assists** in domestic fixtures during 2023/24, alongside numerous key passes leading to goals. Crucially, advanced metrics like Expected Assists (xA) consistently rank him among the top 2% globally for full-backs, highlighting sustained quality beyond raw numbers.

This volume directly fuels Al Hilal’s devastating firepower. When Cancelo registers an assist, the team wins **87%** of matches – a stark contrast to their significantly lower win percentage without his involvement. His arrival coincided with an upgrade in attacking fluidity; goals per game increased noticeably as opposing defences struggled to contain his overlapping runs and pinpoint crosses. The Portuguese international doesn't just support legends like Neymar Jr. either; he unlocks Aleksandar Mitrović and others by threading perfect through-balls between lines or delivering inviting low driven balls into dangerous zones. Defensive duties remain solid too (only fouling slightly more than league avg), ensuring manager Jorge Jesus can demand wider positioning without risking chaos back.

Beyond individual brilliance, Cancelo imposes psychological pressure. Fullbacks now double-team him cautiously, stretching opponent formations out wide and creating lanes for teammates like Malcom or Michael Delpech to exploit. His presence effectively grants Al Hilal an extra playmaker operating from advanced wingback positions. As both provider and progressive passer, Cancelo isn’t just contributing stats – he’s fundamentally reshaping how Al Hilal dominates opponents on their path to continental glory. His assist map isn't just data; it's blueprint for success.

(Word Count: ~298)

• Assist
• Statistics
• Al
• Hilal
• Cancelo