FC Barcelona players Lamine Yamal (center) and Dani Olmo (right) celebrate the latter’s goal in the victory against Rayo Vallecano, on August 27, 2024 in Madrid
Pierre-Philippe MARCOU
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Spanish striker Dani Olmo, a new signing for FC Barcelona in the current transfer market, scored the winning goal on Tuesday in the 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in the third round of the Spanish championship.
Barça secured their lead despite Unai López’s opening goal (9), which put the visitors on the ropes until half-time. After the break, Pedri (60) equalised the match and Olmo, who came on in the second half as a replacement for Ferran Torres, scored the winning goal (82).
“Since I arrived I was looking forward to my first match, my debut, and what better way,” Olmo told DAZN. “I’m very happy to have played, to have made my debut and to have helped the team.”
The 26-year-old forward, one of the protagonists of Spain’s victory at Euro 2024 last July, was signed by Barça at the beginning of the month, but the Catalan club’s financial problems had prevented him from registering until now, so he missed the first two games.
Assisted by his teammate Lamine Yamal, Olmo became the protagonist, minutes after a goal by the Pole Robert Lewandowski (71) had been cancelled out by a stamp by Jules Koundé on defender Pep Chavarría in the build-up to the play.
In the final minutes of the match, young 17-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal was injured, making the result “a sad victory,” according to coach Hansi Flick.
“It’s a sad victory because Marc Bernal got injured and it doesn’t look good. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out how serious it is. We won, that’s good, but when you look at the dressing room, nobody is happy,” a worried-looking Flick told DAZN.
Bernal, who has started all three of Barça’s games this season, could join an infirmary that is beginning to fill up with long-term absences.
Rayo Vallecano’s new signing announced on Monday, Colombian James Rodríguez, watched the match from the stands, which were also attended by personalities linked to Barça such as former player Bojan Krkic and sporting director Deco.
Before the match, Rayo Vallecano striker Sergio Camello was applauded by the stadium when he showed the gold medal won by Spain at the last Olympic Games in Paris-2024. Camello was particularly important in the final, with a double to beat France 5-3.
With nine points, Barça are the sole leaders after being the only team to have won their first three games, and are provisionally five points ahead of Real Madrid, who will visit Las Palmas on Thursday, at the close of this midweek matchday.
Mallorca and Sevilla also took place on Tuesday, ending in a goalless draw, leaving both teams at the bottom of the table (14th and 13th respectively), after neither of them had managed to win in the first three games.
