FC Barcelona continues its perfect start to the season. This Tuesday evening, the Blaugrana won on the pitch of Rayo Vallecano (1-2), during the third day of La Liga. At the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas in Madrid, it was Unai López who opened the scoring (9th), before Barça turned everything around, through Pedri (60th) and Dani Olmo (82nd). In the Spanish championship standings, Hansi Flick’s men temporarily take the lead, while Rayo is eighth.
Arriving on August 9th from the German club RB Leipzig for the sum of around 55 million euros, midfielder Dani Olmo (26 years old), finally qualified, started this match on the substitutes’ bench. The Spanish international was then thrown into the deep end at the start of the second half, in place of Ferran Torres. This coaching by Hansi Flick quickly proved to be profitable. Olmo showed himself to be dangerous from the first seconds, before seeing a powerful long-range shot with his right foot crash against the crossbar (58th). At the end of the match, the midfielder, found behind by Lamine Yamal, gave his team the victory with a left-footed strike (82nd, 1-2).
Lewandowski almost scored his fourth goal of the season
At the hour mark, following a strong Barça period, it was Pedri who managed to equalise, also with his left foot (60th minute, 1-1). In the final seconds, Marc Bernal then tried to give the score even more momentum, with a long-range shot, but without success (90th minute + 3). Olmo’s entry clearly gave the Catalans a second wind in attack. However, Robert Lewandowski was obviously still starting up front, having already scored three goals in two games at the start of the Liga season. The Polish striker thought he had scored the fourth, but the VAR saw a foul by Jules Koundé at the start of the action (71st minute). Barcelona had missed their first act, despite attempts by Iñigo Martínez (19th minute) and Lamine Yamal (37th minute), each time caught by Dani Cardenas.
The Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper could, at that moment, be calm, because his team were ahead, on the scoreboard. It was Unai Lopez who had launched his team, with a right-footed shot at the near post (9th, 1-0). His first goal in La Liga since November 2023. An opening goal that rewarded an excellent start to the match from the home team, superior in all areas of the game. Not really exempt from any reproach on this goal, Marc-André ter Stegen had, at first, intervened in front of Alvaro Garcia (7th), before remaining vigilant against Alfonso Espino (43rd) then Adri Embarba (79th).
This is a setback for Rayo Vallecano, who had started this season with a victory and then a draw. Arriving free on Monday from São Paulo, midfielder James Rodriguez (33 years old) attended this match in the stands. The Colombian international should be available for Rayo this Saturday evening at 7:15 p.m., for a trip to Espanyol. For its part, Barça will be able to try to get a fourth consecutive victory, the same day (5 p.m.), against Valladolid.
