FC Barcelona fans were delighted with the arrival of Joao Felix after just three matches, when he gave a boost to the attack, but that impact waned as the weeks went by.
The Portuguese arrived on loan from Atlético de Madrid at the transfer deadline and, after playing his first minutes against Osasuna, he scored and created another goal for Robert Lewandowski in a 5-0 win against Real Betis. Felix was responsible for two goals and an assist in the following match, in which FC Barcelona crushed Royal Antwerp by the same score.
However, his impact has diminished, as illustrated by his absences against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in recent matches. MD highlights that he has scored just one goal in 12 matches so far, equating to his worst start to a La Liga season with Atletico Madrid in 2021-22, although his best start is five goals in his first 12 matches, a season he finished with just 10 goals in all competitions.
This will fuel concerns at FC Barcelona who fear he will fail to maintain his form over a season, which was a major problem at Atlético. The positive thing is that he hasn’t scored in nine matches, but he has made three assists, which proves that he is still important during these weeks.
The real test will come now, with the return of FC Barcelona players and the increase in competition. One of the mitigating circumstances is that Felix was deprived of rest for several weeks and that the attack around him was struggling. If Felix wants to keep his place, he will have to perform well in the weeks to come.
