Dani Olmo Seals Victory for Barca on Delayed Debut Against Rayo Vallecano

Dani Olmo made his delayed FC Barcelona debut with a goal to seal a 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Tuesday. 

The Spain midfielder striked in the 82nd minute of the match to claim their third successive win under the new coach Hansi Flick at the beginning of the season.

The Spanish giants were unable to register Olmo with La Liga after signing him from RB Leipzig until early Tuesday when he stepped in and made an instant impact at Rayo’s Vallecas stadium. 

Unai Lopez’s shot from inside the box sent Rayo ahead against Barca in the first half of the game. But Olmo’s arrival after the break energised the Catalans, who later equalised in the 60th minute before the new signing announced his arrival with the winning goal. 

“(I’ve been waiting to play) since I arrived, looking forward to the first game, the debut, and what better way (to mark it),” Olmo said.

“I was really looking forward to it, I felt physically ready to play, and it finally happened today.

“I am very happy to have made my debut and helped the team.”

In the final stages of the game, the 17-year-old defensive midfielder Marc Bernal was subbed off after twisting a knee and Flick was worried about the youngster, who has been quite impressed at the early stages of the season. 

“It’s a sad victory because Marc Bernal is injured and it looks not so good,” said the German coach.

“We have to wait until tomorrow to wait and see how heavy it is.

“We win, it’s OK but when you see the dressing room nobody is happy.”

Rayo Ballecano was celebrating its centenary year, signed ex-former Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez earlier in the week but he watched the match from the presidential box as Olmo found the back of the net and stuck a win for the visitors.

“I’m always a player who looks to score, Lamine found me well and I finished well, a good goal, I’m very happy,” added Olmo. 

Barcelona was in a different gravy in the second half of the game, they missed this form in recent years but have seemed to fit under Flick’s influence.

The win took Barca to the top of the table after the third round of matches, despite several injuries affecting crucial players including the likes of Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong.

Bernal has started for all three of Barcelona’s games this season but the club will miss him probably for the rest of the season due to his ACL injury.