At least Olmo scores on debut
Serious injury overshadows Flick’s dream start in Barcelona
28.08.2024, 10:39 a.m.
Things are going exceptionally well for former national coach Hansi Flick in his first international role. He has achieved three victories in three matches. New signing Dani Olmo also made an immediate impact. However, a dark cloud looms over the 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Dani Olmo delivered Hansi Flick’s third win as coach of FC Barcelona, scoring the decisive goal in his debut after returning to his youth club in the 2-1 (0-1) away victory against Rayo Vallecano. Unai Lopez put the home team ahead in the ninth minute. After halftime, Flick introduced Olmo, acquired from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, for the first time and celebrated Pedri’s equalizer (60′). A few minutes later, Olmo found the net to secure the win (72′).
“I’m really, really happy with the game and the win. It was a dream debut for me,” Olmo told ESPN after the match. The former Leipzig player had missed the first two games of the season, having only received clearance to play shortly before the match.
Barcelona was able to register him with the league due to Andreas Christensen’s Achilles tendon injury, which suspended his registration for the next six months. This allowed Barcelona to meet Spanish fair play regulations; the club had previously reduced wages by selling İlkay Gündoğan to Manchester City, among other measures. “I was confident that the club would resolve it,” said Olmo. “I was ready for the moment. I’m just very happy with how it went.”
Serious concern for young star
Barcelona has had a flawless start to the season with their new coach. After an opening win against Valencia FC, the Catalans defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on the second matchday, with former Bundesliga striker Robert Lewandowski scoring the winning goal, putting them at the top of the table with nine points.
However, it was not all good news for former DFB coach Flick. Marc Bernal, who is only 17 years old, left the field shortly before the end due to a knee injury. “It is a bittersweet victory for us because Bernal is injured, and it doesn’t look promising,” said Flick after the game. “We need to await further information regarding the severity of the injury. We won, which is positive, but looking around the dressing room, no one is truly happy. It’s just not good. He’s 17 years old, performing like that. It really hurts.”
According to several media reports, Barcelona suspects that the injury is a cruciate ligament tear. Bernal made his debut in the opening match against Valencia. With the departure of former DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan and the current absences of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, Flick’s squad is becoming increasingly depleted.
At least Olmo scores on debut
Serious injury overshadows Flick’s dream start in Barcelona
28.08.2024, 10:39 a.m.
Actually, things are going perfectly for former national coach Hansi Flick in his first foreign assignment. He has collected three wins in three games. New signing Dani Olmo also makes an immediate impact. But there is a dark shadow hanging over the 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Dani Olmo secured Hansi Flick’s third victory as coach of FC Barcelona. The Spanish European football champion scored the decisive goal in his first appearance after returning to his youth club in the 2-1 (0-1) away win at Rayo Vallecano. Unai Lopez put the hosts in the lead in the ninth minute. After the change, Flick brought on Olmo, who had been brought in from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, for the first time and was only able to celebrate Pedri’s equaliser (60′). A few minutes later, Olmo scored the winning goal (72%).
“I’m really, really happy with the game and the win. It was a dream debut for me,” Olmo told ESPN after the game. The former Leipzig player had missed the first two games of the season. He had only received his eligibility to play shortly before the match.
Barça was only able to register him with the league because of Andreas Christensen’s Achilles tendon injury. His registration was suspended for the next six months. Barcelona thus fulfilled the Spanish fair play requirements; the club had previously saved on wages by selling İlkay Gündoğan to Manchester City, among other things. “I was sure that the club would sort it out,” said Olmo. “I was ready for the moment. I’m just very happy with how it went.”
Great concern for young star
Barça has had a perfect start to the season with their new coach. After their opening win at Valencia FC, the Catalans beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on the second matchday with the winning goal from former Bundesliga striker Robert Lewandowski and are now top of the table with nine points.
Bernal limps off the pitch.
(Foto: picture alliance / NurPhoto)
But there was not only good news for former DFB coach Flick. Marc Bernal, who is only 17 years old, had to leave the field shortly before the end with a knee injury. “It is a sad victory for us because Bernal is injured and it doesn’t look so good,” said Flick after the game. “We have to wait and see how serious the injury is. We won, that’s good. But when I look in the dressing room, nobody is really happy. It’s just not good. He’s 17 years old, a performance like that. It just hurts.”
According to consistent media reports, Barcelona are assuming that the injury is a cruciate ligament tear. Bernal only made his debut in the opening match against Valencia. Following the departure of former DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan and the current absences of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, Flick’s club is becoming increasingly thin on personnel.
Match Overview
| Statistic | FC Barcelona | Rayo Vallecano |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 | 1 |
| Goals | Olmo (72′), Pedri (60′) | Lopez (9′) |
| Total Shots | 15 | 7 |
| Ball Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Fouls Committed | 14 | 12 |
Player Performance Highlights
- Dani Olmo: Scored the winning goal on his debut.
- Pedri: Instrumental in equalizing the match.
- Robert Lewandowski: Continued to show his experience with his goal in previous matches.
- Marc Bernal: Impressive performances cut short by injury.
Looking Ahead
Hansi Flick will be focusing on maintaining momentum as Barcelona prepare for their next fixtures in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. With injuries mounting, squad depth will be tested, requiring strategic rotations and possibly looking into the transfer market for reinforcements.
Conclusion
The mix of excitement over Olmo’s impactful debut and the concern for Bernal’s injury reflects the unpredictable nature of football. Fans and analysts around the world will be watching closely as FC Barcelona navigates what promises to be a challenging yet thrilling season.
