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Friday, December 13, 2024
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Barcelona edges Rayo to stay unbeaten

publish time

28/08/2024

publish time

28/08/2024

Barcelona's Dani Olmo, right, celebrates with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid, Spain . (AP)

 MADRID, Aug 28, (AP): Dani Olmo made his dream debut with Barcelona, scoring a late winner to keep the Catalan club with a perfect record to start the Spanish league. Olmo found the net in the 82nd minute with a low left-footed shot into the far corner after an assist by Lamine Yamal to give Barcelona a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona is the only team with three wins after three rounds this season.

Olmo, who was only registered with the first team Tuesday morning after signing from Leipzig, entered the match at halftime to replace Ferran Torres. "I was anxious to debut and it couldn’t have been better,” Olmo said. "I’m glad I finally got to play and that I was able to help the team.” The 26-year-old Spain international, a former member of Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy, had come close to scoring in the 58th with a shot that hit the crossbar. "Yeah, he scored the goal, this is why we are happy that he is in our team,” new Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said.

"We deserved these three points.” Rayo, celebrating its centennial this season, opened the scoring nine minutes into the match with Unai López finding the net from close range with a right-footed strike. Two minutes after Olmo hit the crossbar, Pedri evened the match with a shot from near the penalty spot following an assist from Raphinha. Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski thought he had put Barcelona ahead in the 71st but his goal was disallowed by video review after a foul by Barcelona defender Jules Koundé in the buildup.