Dani Olmo enjoyed a dream debut with Barcelona, scoring a late winner to help maintain the Catalan club’s perfect start to the 2024-25 Spanish La Liga season.
Olmo found the net in the 82nd minute with a low left-footed shot into the far corner, after an assist by Lamine Yamal, giving Barcelona a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Spain international, a former member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, was only registered with the first team Tuesday morning after signing from German Bundesliga club Leipzig. He entered the match at halftime to replace Ferran Torres.
“I was anxious to debut and it couldn’t have been better,” Olmo said. “I’m glad I finally got to play and that I was able to help the team.”
Olmo had come close to scoring in the 58th minute with a shot that hit the crossbar. Two minutes later, Pedri evened the score with a strike from near the penalty spot, following an assist from Raphinha.
Rayo Vallecano, celebrating their centennial season, opened the scoring nine minutes into the game when Unai López found the net from close range with a right-footed strike.
Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski thought he had put the visitors ahead in the 71st minute, but his effort was disallowed upon video review due to a foul in the buildup by defender Jules Kounde.
New Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed mixed emotions after the match. “Yeah, he scored the goal, this is why we are happy that he is in our team,” Flick said. “We deserved these three points.”
However, Flick lamented a knee injury to 17-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal late in second-half stoppage time. “We win, it’s okay, but when you see the dressing room, no one is happy,” the German coach noted.
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Dani Olmo scores in La Liga debut as Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1
cgtn.com
