Dani Olmo’s dream debut in Vallecas

Barça are still going full steam ahead. Hansi Flick’s team beat Rayo Vallecas on Tuesday in a match in which they went from strength to strength and in which Dani Olmo shone above all. The former Leipzig player made his debut with the Blaugranas in time to turn around Unai López’s opening goal and complete a comeback that Pedri had previously started. Barcelona have a full house of victories and are now the sole leaders of La Liga.

And the night started with a monumental blunder. That’s how Barça came out in Vallecas. Flick’s team left behind the euphoria of the first few days and got lost in the revelry that Rayo has become in recent months. And James Rodríguez, yes, James Rodríguez was in the stands, Camello had a gold medal in his hands and the local fans roared as only you can when your club turns one hundred years old. That madness was too much for a Barça lost in the paperwork of the last days of the transfer market. Dani Olmo is already registered, but not his teammates at the start of the match in which they were overwhelmed by the intensity of their rival.

And that was despite Flick repeating the eleven that the Barça fans are beginning to recite by heart, with the exception of Gerard Martín, a new addition at left-back. The youth-team player came into a team in which Marc Bernal and Pedri were once again the compass and in which Raphinha was the link with Lewandowski. This time the formula did not work. Rayo came out intensely, pressed in the opposition half and suffocated a Barça that collapsed at the start of the game. The red-and-whites won the duels and the chances began to arrive one after another, like that drop that makes a furrow. Ter Stegen blocked a shot from Álvaro García, Isi shot wide from the edge of the box and the third time was the charm after a play that ended with Unai López’s feet, who fired the first goal at ease and into the near post.

The goal was a wake-up call for Barça. The Catalans had given away the first quarter of an hour and had to make quick corrections to avoid further damage. Flick urged Marc Bernal to take a step back and take the helm at the start and that is how the Barça team’s dynamic changed. The youth players were already pulling the cart and this was demonstrated by the fact that until half-time all of the Barça’s offensive flow was through the boots of Lamine Yamal. The Catalans needed to widen the field against the franjirojos’ step back and the number 19 insisted on facing his opponent again and again until he levelled the match. A shot of his was cleared by Cardenas and a cross caused the first doubts for a Rayo team that went into the break ahead on the scoreboard and with the peace of mind of knowing they were superior.

The game changed

After the restart, Flick understood that he needed freshness between the lines and ordered Dani Olmo to make his debut. The former Leipzig player came on for Ferran Torres, moved Raphinha to the left wing and settled into the attacking midfield, a position that suits him like a glove. A couple of minutes were enough for him to show his great quality and create space that had not existed until then. He linked up perfectly with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and company, assisted Lewandowski, made several dribbles and even dared to take a shot from medium distance that crashed into the crossbar.

It was the start of the show. Dani Olmo changed the game and Barça came back, as if they had found the missing piece. Rayo retreated and the goal came almost by crushing. Pedri, very involved, set up Raphinha, who won the byline, and his back pass was finished by the Canary Islander to equal the contest. From there, the storm came. Flick brought on Balde to widen the field even more and the Catalans went all out. They warned with a goal disallowed by Lewandowski due to a foul by Koundé at the start of the play and Dani Olmo finished off with the goal that gave Barça the three points and rounded off their great night. He did it after an assist from Lamine Yamal and a quick left-footed shot, unstoppable for Cárdenas. Dani Olmo is already registered and has started like a shot.