Dani Olmo couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to life back at FC Barcelona. Two great displays and a goal in each of them go to show that he is sure to be a cornerstone of the new project under Hansi Flick.

At Rayo Vallecano, he came on at half-time with his side trailing 1-0. His introduction seemed to be the driver of a vast improvement in the second half in which the team bounced back from behind to win 2-1. And he was the man who scored the winner.

A few days later he got his first start against Real Valladolid and led the goal charge from the very first instant. He never stopped, hitting the post twice, having one goal disallowed and getting into other goalscoring positions too. Much activity, but no goals, until his final intervention before being substituted. A fine goal it was, the sixth of a mighty seven that Barça scored that day.

Goal every 64 minutes

Thus far, Flick has used Olmo for 128 minutes in the two games since the player was finally registered for La Liga. That’s an astonishing return of one goal every 64 minutes.

No player has scored twice in his first two games for Barça since José Arnáiz, now of Osasuna, did so in 2017. He was actually a Barça Atlètic at the time and scored his goals in a Copa del Rey match with Murcia. In fact, he scored in his first three games as he was also on target in a cup game against Celta.

Players who have scored twice in their first two league games this century are Ludovic Giuly, Cesc Fábregas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Giuly scored in the first two games of the 2004/05 season. In 2011/12, Fàbregas managed to keep his scoring run alive for four games, but the most astounding case of all was that of Zlatan, who scored in his first five games in the blaugrana jersey.

It would be quite something if Olmo were able to imitate that. But he already has the first two games under his belt, so who knows? Next up, Girona away!