Dani Olmo’s Return to Competitive Action is Highlighted with a Comeback Victory at Rayo Vallecano
Tuesday saw the long-awaited Barcelona debut from Olmo who scored the vital goal that helped the team come from behind to defeat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in La Liga. Olmo's goal in the 82nd minute made sure there was no third successive defeat to new manager Hansi Flick. The playmaker had been outside the limits of registration with the La Liga since morning and made his presence feel pretty quickly after being brought on against the Rayo team at their own Vallecas stadium.
The initial 45 minutes of the match ended in a stalemate until the second 45 minutes Unai Lopez's header gave Rayo Vallecano the foremost lead. But Barcelona’s Pedri scored and leveled the scores for the game. After a slow first half of the game from the Catalan side, Olmo then came and provided the final goal for the game thrilling the people of Barcelona further.
“I arrived and I was eager to make my debut, and what better way to do it than scoring? Since I have come into this team I add god on that day on the ability to make the debut as a scorer,” Olmo said in an interview with DAZN. “This is why I am very happy that I was part of the team when the victory was attained.”
In the end, even the win had a downside with the injury sustained by Marc Bernal, a defensive midfielder 17 years old, who was hurt and substituted because of twisting his knee. Flick is worried about this talent, who has played impressively this season.
It's a melancholy victory since Marc Bernal is hurt and the prognosis is not encouraging,” Flick said. “We will have to wait for tomorrow to know the severity of the injury.
Rayo Vallecano, which celebrates the centenary today, just had signed another Middleton playmaker who happened to be Rodriguez James who was seen in the stands during the match. The leveler attacked for the opener first finding the net through Lopez's low shot from Jorge De Frutos’ assist.
And it was in the second match where Barcelona, probably their depressing first half could only be improved the moment Olmo came in. The last fifteen minutes' intensity changed as Lewandowski and Raphinha's efforts came close before Pedro equalized.
Lewandowski went close to scoring a second, yet due to virtue of VAR, Kounde was credited with a contact foul on Chavarria which the referee considered as a foul. Still, Yamal’s throw-in reached Olmo who scored after Deby Olmo did all the screenwork.
“I normally consider every game as an opportunity to find the back of the net and it was of great joy for me after Lamine gave a perfect assist to me,’’ Olmo remarked further.
Barcelona's win guarantees that after the end of round three of La Liga, the current Champion will be in the first place in the table still having injury problems with Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ronald Araujjo key players in the squad.
Thursday will see a League action where Real Madrid will travel to Las Palmas while on Wednesday Atletico Madrid will welcome Espanyol.
