Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona: Olmo’s perfect debut, Pedri magic and a heartbreaking injury

Three matchdays into the new La Liga season, Barcelona are the only team to sit strong on a complete package of nine points. For a team in jeopardy in terms of finances and injuries, that is remarkable.

Hansi Flick’s side completed their third win of the season at Estadio de Vallecas last night, putting an end to a three-game winless streak at the venue and asserting their authority in the early phase of the title race.

What made the win all the more impressive, however, was the fact that the Blaugrana were forced to come back from a goal down on the night.

Rayo Vallecano opened the scoring early through Unai López but a second-half comeback via Pedri and Dani Olmo helped the Catalans secure three points.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways for Hansi Flick from the team’s latest performance.

Dani Olmo’s poetic debut

Barcelona’s win over Rayo Vallecano last night was a game of two halves. The opening 45 minutes may not have seen the best version of Hansi Flick’s side, but matters changed after the break.

The German manager’s decision to take off Ferran Torres as early as the 45th minute and replace him with the debutant Dani Olmo reaped rewards as the new signing took Vallecas by storm.

Olmo came onto the field and immediately occupied a central role behind Robert Lewandowski, pushing Raphinha slightly to the left.

Prominently featuring in the Rayo Vallecano box, the former La Masia star helped amp up Barcelona’s presence in the final third and brought chances in waves.

Olmo, Pedri, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski soon overloaded the hosts’ defence, pulling away defenders and creating gaps to exploit. Both goals, in fact, came from a similar arrangement.

In 45 minutes, the new signing provided two key passes, completed 100% of his crosses, hit the woodwork with a stunning shot from distance and completed both the dribbles he attempted.

He capped off his excellent debut with a goal to give Barcelona all three points, striking the ball from a tight angle to put it out of the goalkeeper’s reach with impeccable precision.

How long has Barcelona yearned for this Pedri?

Pedri’s quality has never been in doubt and the midfielder’s first season at the club showed why he was beyond special.

The youngster’s development, however, has been perturbed in recent seasons owing to recurrent injuries that have not offered him any continuity on the field. Every time he appeared close to complete fitness, a new setback plagued him.

After years, there now appears to be some form of stability around Pedri who looks sharper than ever from a physical standpoint while he topped his performance off with a goal in the 60th minute.

The same player who could not complete 70 minutes last season played 89 minutes against Rayo Vallecano without appearing winded and only made way from the field after suffering a strong blow.

Speaking to the media after the game, the youngster revealed that he feels more physically prepared than he ever has in recent times.

“I’m in very good physical condition. I think I haven’t felt this way physically in a long time.”

With Flick personally overseeing his fitness, Barcelona fans can hope for the youngster to see an injury-free season and the world is not prepared for a version of Pedri with his one black mark wiped off.

A heartbreaking injury

Barcelona’s second-half performance last night was beyond impressive as they showed great character to come back from a goal down to take all three points. The result, yet, left a bitter taste.

The crushing moment for Hansi Flick and Co. at Vallecas came in stoppage time when Marc Bernal went down in excruciating pain after a challenge on his ankle.

While initially it was suspected that he had suffered a blow to his foot, it later came to light that it was his knee that put him in serious discomfort. His awkward landing forced him to leave the field in tears, unable to bear weight on his leg.

The injury now appears to be the most serious blow any footballer can suffer on the field and the same setback that currently plagues Gavi – an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear, and Bernal will thus miss the rest of the season.

The news comes as a big blow both to the player and the management, for the 17-year-old was truly remarkable covering the defensive midfield position and with his distribution.

Standing at the doorstep of a regular role through the season, Bernal must now undergo a long period on the sidelines hoping to recover to his best version. For Flick meanwhile, it sends the alarm bells ringing with less than a week to go on the transfer market.