MADRID: A late goal by new signing Dani Olmo gave Barcelona a nervy 2-1 comeback victory at Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, as the La Liga leaders continued their perfect start to the season with a third consecutive win under new coach Hansi Flick.

After missing Barca’s first two games as he was unregistered due the club’s struggles to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Olmo came off the bench in the second half to give Barca the spark they needed on his debut after signing from RB Leipzig.

He struck the winner in the 82nd minute after Pedri’s goal on a counter-attack in the 60th minute had cancelled out Unai Lopez’s early opener for Rayo.

The win put Barcelona top the standings on nine points from three games, two ahead second-placed Villarreal. Rayo are eighth on four points.

“[I’ve been waiting to play] since I arrived, looking forward to the first game, the debut, and what better way (to mark it),” Olmo told DAZN. “I was really looking forward to it, I felt physically ready to play, and it finally happened today. I am very happy to have made my debut and helped the team.”

In the final stages 17-year-old defensive midfielder Marc Bernal was taken off after appearing to twist his knee and Flick was worried about the youngster, who has impressed at the start of the season.

“It’s a sad victory because Marc Bernal is injured and it looks not so good,” said the German coach. “We have to wait until tomorrow to wait and see how heavy it is. We win, it’s OK but when you see the dressing room nobody is happy.”

Vallecas has not been a happy hunting ground for Barcelona in recent years and the Catalan giants have failed to win a league game at the raucous stadium on the outskirts of Madrid since November 2018.

Rayo dominated proceedings in the first half and took the lead from a quick counter started by Jorge de Frutos who set up Lopez to score in the ninth minute.

Rayo minimised Barcelona’s threat in the first half except for the odd occasion teenage star Lamine Yamal managed to work his magic.

But Barca were livelier after the break, with manager Hansi Flick bringing the versatile Olmo off the bench.

The former Barca academy player quickly began to make his mark on proceedings and the Catalans started to generate chances.

He fired a thunderous strike from long range in the 57th minute that cannoned off the crossbar and was a constant menace for Rayo’s defence.

Barca made the pressure count and Pedri levelled on the hour mark after exchanging passes with Raphinha and sweeping home.

Barca thought they had scored a second through Robert Lewandowski in the 71st minute, but referee Cesar Soto Grado ruled out his effort due to a foul in the build up that he spotted in a VAR review.

However, Olmo gave Barca a deserved win after a fine combination with Yamal, who drove to the byline before cutting the ball back for an unmarked Olmo inside the box, who netted a curling strike just inside the far post.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024