Dani Olmo made a “dream debut” for Barcelona, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 comeback victory against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old had missed the first two matches of the season due to registration issues linked to Barcelona’s financial constraints, but he made an immediate impact after being registered this week.
Olmo came off the bench at halftime and netted the winning goal in the 82nd minute, securing Barcelona’s third consecutive win to start the season. Earlier, Pedri had equalized after Unai López opened the scoring for Rayo Vallecano in the ninth minute.
“I am really happy with the game and the win,” Olmo told ESPN. “It was a dream debut for me.”
Olmo, who signed from RB Leipzig for €55 million after a successful run with Spain at Euro 2024, expressed excitement about returning to the club where he developed in the youth academy before moving to Dinamo Zagreb at 16. He had confidence that Barcelona would resolve the registration issues and felt physically ready to contribute when given the opportunity.
“It was a dream to come back,” he added. “I was ready, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It was crucial for the team.”
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, praised Olmo’s performance after bringing him on for Ferran Torres at the break. Flick noted that Olmo’s presence brought more control to the game and highlighted his ability to score, which is uncommon for a midfielder.
“His impact was significant,” Flick said. “He helped us maintain possession and was effective in front of goal.”
With this victory, Barcelona became the only team in La Liga to start the season with three straight wins, a feat not achieved since the 2018-19 season. However, Flick remained focused on the upcoming match against Real Valladolid, emphasizing the need for improvement based on their first-half performance.
Despite the win, the match was marred by a late injury to 17-year-old Marc Bernal. Concerns arose that he may have sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which could sideline him for much of the season. Flick expressed sadness over Bernal’s injury, noting the young player’s impressive performance.
“It’s a bittersweet victory because of Marc’s injury,” Flick said. “We need to wait for further assessments, but it’s a tough blow for us.”
Dani Olmo just put in one of the greatest debuts in Barcelona’s history. This is pure insanity; he is never going to sit on the bench. pic.twitter.com/wAFCdD3xqP
Advertisement— Anabella💙❤ (@AnabellaMarvy) August 27, 2024
