MADRID:
Barcelona secured a tense 2-1 comeback victory over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, thanks to a late goal from new signing Dani Olmo. The LaLiga leaders maintained their perfect start to the season with their third consecutive win.
Olmo, who had missed Barcelona’s first two matches due to registration issues stemming from the club’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) complications, made his debut after being signed from RB Leipzig. He came off the bench in the second half and delivered the match-winning goal in the 82nd minute. This came after Pedri’s 60th-minute goal had levelled the score, cancelling out Unai Lopez’s early opener for Rayo.
This victory put Barcelona top of the LaLiga standings with nine points from three matches, two points ahead of second-placed Villarreal. Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, sit in eighth place with four points.
Rayo Vallecano has proven to be a challenging opponent for Barcelona in recent years, with the Catalan club not having won a league match at Vallecas since November 2018. Rayo dominated much of the first half, taking the lead in the ninth minute. Jorge de Frutos launched a counter-attack, setting up Unai Lopez to score. Rayo continued to put pressure on Barcelona, with Alvaro Garcia and Isi Palazon both having excellent chances.
Barcelona, however, improved significantly after the break. Manager Hansi Flick introduced Olmo, whose lively performance helped turn the game. Olmo, a standout player during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, nearly scored with a long-range effort that struck the crossbar in the 57th minute.
Barcelona equalised shortly after, with Pedri starting a counter-attack, exchanging passes with Raphinha, and finishing into the bottom corner. Although Robert Lewandowski thought he had scored a second goal in the 71st minute, it was disallowed after a VAR review.
Olmo eventually secured the win, combining well with Lamine Yamal, who set him up for a curling strike just inside the far post, sealing a well-deserved victory for Barcelona.
