Will Dani Olmo be in the starting eleven in the match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano? That is not entirely clear, as the attacking midfielder position is one of the most contested in the Blaugrana squad. In this match, with the absence of Fermín López due to suspension, there is a great debate about who will take on the 'number 10' role, with two main candidates: Gavi and Dani Olmo.

Speaking of the player from Catalonia, he has good memories of facing Rayo Vallecano. Although he has only faced the 'franjirrojos' once, that match was special for two main reasons. In that game, played on August 27 at Vallecas, Dani Olmo made his debut as a FC Barcelona player, after not being able to participate in the first two LaLiga matches (against Valencia CF and Athletic Club).

The second reason is more related to his performance on the field. On that occasion, Hansi Flick gave Dani Olmo 45 minutes, replacing Ferran Torres, and made an impact by scoring the second goal in the 82nd minute with a left-footed shot to the far post, unreachable for Rayo Vallecano's goalkeeper, Dani Cárdenas.

In addition to his goal against Rayo Vallecano, those 45 minutes allowed Dani Olmo to showcase himself as a true 'showman'. He won a penalty that unfortunately was not awarded due to a refereeing error, came close to scoring another fantastic goal that hit the crossbar, and led most of FC Barcelona's offensive plays. A true 'playmaker'.

Dani Olmo's statistics in the match against Rayo Vallecano (08/27/2024):

  • Minutes played: 45
  • Goals: 1
  • Touches: 39
  • Passes: 21/25 (84%)
  • Key passes: 2
  • Crosses: 1/1
  • Long balls: 0/1
  • Big chances created: 1
  • Shots on target: 1
  • Shots off target: 1
  • Blocked shots: 1
  • Dribbles succeeded: 2/2
  • Duels won: 3/6
  • Fouls drawn: 1

Now we will have to see if Hansi Flick decides to include Dani Olmo in the starting lineup against Rayo Vallecano, which would be his tenth start of the 2024-25 season, the first since recovering from the calf strain in his right leg that kept him out for almost three weeks. There is also the option of giving him minutes as a substitute depending on the course of the match, as he has shown to be decisive even when coming off the bench.