Dani Olmo scores winner on Barcelona debut

Barcelona denied Rayo Vallecano the opportunity of making it three wins in their first three La Liga games of the season for the first time in three after beating their Tuesday hosts in a 2-1 victory.

The two sides, who have managed victories in their first two games of the 2024/2025 La Liga season, clashed in a matchday 3 encounter at Estadio de Vallecas.

Rayo didn’t waste time to score the opening goal of the game with a ninth-minute strike after an energetic start as Unai López swept home a Jorge de Frutos cut-back. However, beyond the goal, goalmouth action and chances were scarce. However, Barcelona had their best chance before the break through Lamine Yamal, who tested Daniel Cárdenas towards the break.

At halftime, Hansi Flick brought in Dani Olmo for his Barça debut, and his substitution injected fresh energy into Barcelona as they went close to equalizing just five minutes into the half. Raphinha’s zipped pass across goal narrowly evaded the touch of Robert Lewandowski.

Moments later, Olmo went close with a long-range effort that caught Rayo off-guard, but his speculative long-range effort only rattled the crossbar.

An equalizer arrived on the hour mark as Pedri and Raphinha ended, with Pedri netting his first goal of the season with a neat finish. The final half-hour was exciting as Barcelona pushed for goals and, more importantly, the winner.

While Rayo put up a resistance for as long as they could, Lewandowski hit the back of the net only for his close-range finish to be chalked off for a foul in the build-up after a VAR check, but Flick’s men were not to be denied as Dani Olmo excellently controlled Yamal’s pass before hitting the back of the net with the goal that earned the visitors all three points to maintain their 100% start to the season.