Olmo leads Barca past Espanyol; Simeone's son scores for Atletico

Posted : 03 November 2024

Dani Olmo marked his return from injury with a stellar performance, scoring twice in his first start as Barcelona triumphed over local rivals Espanyol with a 3-1 victory on Sunday. This win allowed Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points, solidifying their dominance in the league.

In a parallel match, Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory against Las Palmas, with coach Diego Simeone's son, Giuliano, netting his first goal for the club. Meanwhile, Real Madrid remained in second place but was unable to play against Valencia due to severe flooding in the area, which further benefitted Barcelona's standing.

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Barcelona opened the scoring with Raphinha, who found the net between Olmo's goals, giving the home side a comfortable three-goal advantage by the 31st minute at the Olympic Stadium. Although Espanyol managed to claw one back through Javi Puado in the second half, they faced a challenging battle, including three goals that were disallowed for offside.

Despite the final score, Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick expressed dissatisfaction with his team's second-half performance, stating they lost focus and concentration. “We had unforced errors,” he noted, adding that although he accepted the outcome since they won, a higher level of performance would be necessary for their upcoming European fixture.

Under Flick's guidance, Barcelona has enjoyed a remarkable start to the season, securing 10 wins in 11 La Liga matches, including victories against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Olmo, who returned to action after a lengthy injury layoff, expressed his excitement, saying, “I'm back, enjoying it, playing, winning, and I want more.”

Lamine Yamal, the promising young talent from Spain, contributed significantly to the first goal with a deft pass, allowing Olmo to finish with precision. Raphinha's contribution was also notable, as he showcased his skill by lifting the ball over the Espanyol goalkeeper, reinforcing Barcelona's attacking prowess.

In a related context, Atletico Madrid's match took place amid discussions regarding the appropriateness of playing amid the flood disaster in Valencia. Donations were collected at the Metropolitano Stadium for the victims, with Giuliano Simeone reflecting on the tragedy while celebrating his own achievement, stating, “I send my support and strength to them.” This sentiment of solidarity resonated throughout the league as players and clubs responded to the crisis in their community.

Olmo leads Barca past Espanyol; Simeone's son scores for Atletico

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