The Olympic Stadium of Lluís Companys will host Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano tonight in the 24th round of the Spanish League.
Both teams enter the match looking for the three points that will strengthen their goals. Barcelona wants to move to the top of the Spanish League standings, while Rayo Vallecano aims to solidify its position in sixth place, which qualifies for the European Conference League.
Related topics
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Dani Olmo has made a decisive decision in his career: he seeks to play a greater role at FC Barcelona. Since his arrival last summer from RB Leipzig, the Spanish midfielder has seen a noticeable decline in his status within the team, especially after his recent injury. Accordingly, Olmo has contacted coach Hansi Flick, asking for more playing time, knowing that he needs to regain his place in the Blaugrana squad.
The competition in midfield is fierce, and Olmo is well aware of this. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are the mainstays in that area, leaving only one place in the attacking line. In this competition, the biggest loser could be Gavi, who is one of the most beloved players among Barcelona fans.
Since his return from injury, Dani Olmo’s role in the team has declined, moving from being a starter to a reserve player. Although Flick has tried him in several positions, he has not always established himself in the starting lineup. However, Olmo is determined to change that, and he may get his chance in the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano.
The big challenge for Flick is to decide who will play alongside Pedri and De Jong in midfield. Currently, Gavi has been the preferred choice due to his energy, enthusiasm, and dedication, which has made him very popular with the fans. However, Dani Olmo believes that he has the creativity and ability to make an impact in the final meters.
If Olmo can convince Flick that he can be a starter, Gavi could lose his place in the starting lineup, at least in the big games.
Gavi’s presence in the starting lineup has always been a given for Flick, but he also knows that the team needs more attacking creativity in some games. Barcelona has struggled in many games due to a lack of solutions in playmaking, and Dani Olmo could be the key to solving this problem.
In addition, the German coach wants to rotate the players more in order to avoid injuries and manage the effort, which could give Olmo more opportunities to play in the upcoming games.
If he can shine in the upcoming games, he could earn a permanent place in the starting lineup, even if it means relegating Gavi to the bench. Thus, one of the biggest internal rivalries within the Barcelona squad could arise.
