Dani Olmo Seals Victory in First Barcelona Appearance

Dani Olmo made an immediate impact for Barcelona, scoring a debut winner just hours after being officially registered with the team. Olmo, who rejoined Barcelona from RB Leipzig for a reported €60 million (£51m) earlier this month had been unable to play due to La Liga’s strict financial regulations. However, with the recent departures of Ilkay Gundogan back to Manchester City and Clement Lenglet to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona was able to register the 26-year-old midfielder in time for their match against Rayo Vallecano.

In a game that saw Barcelona come from behind, Olmo secured a 2-1 victory with a late left-footed strike, following an impressive setup by Lamine Yamal, who also starred for Spain at Euro 2024. Rayo Vallecano took an early lead through Unai Lopez and they held onto it until the hour mark. Barcelona equalized when Pedri combined beautifully with Raphinha before calmly finishing past the goalkeeper.

Olmo’s winning goal not only secured the three points but also maintained Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season. The Catalan club now tops the table, having won all three of their opening matches. Olmo’s return to Barcelona is particularly poignant as he originally came through the club’s youth academy but left for Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16 without making a senior appearance.

His triumphant return to the club and his decisive contribution in this match have already made headlines, marking a successful homecoming for the playmaker. Barcelona’s strong start to the season is a positive sign for Hansi Flick’s side as they aim to defend their La Liga title. With Dani Olmo now in the mix, Barcelona looks well-equipped to challenge on all fronts this season.