Dani Olmo

Far from feeling pressure to stage a comeback, Lamine Yamal has appeared quite confident in Barcelona ahead of the match against Atlético Madrid. The Spaniard star has even warned Diego Simeone about his strong form in one-on-one duels. Despite arriving as clear favorites, Barcelona suffered a surprising defeat against Atlético Madrid. As a result, the Blaugranas find themselves in a difficult position for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, needing to overturn a two-goal deficit. Nevertheless, Lamine Yamal has shown strong confidence in a comeback, warning Atlético Madrid’s Diego Simeone about putting him in one-on-one duels. “Barça have been chasing the Champions League for many years, we’re eager to get through to the next round, and we are Barça—we’ll give it everything… I feel very good, really looking forward to tomorrow’s match. I’m motivated for it and hope I can make the difference. Let’s see if Cholo does me a favor and sets me up for a one-on-one with a defender—I hope so,” Lamine Yamal said in the latest press conference. Facing a two-goal deficit, Lamine Yamal knows they’ll need to mount a powerful offensive against Atlético Madrid. Far from being intimidated by this challenge, he has already made it clear that he’s looking forward to one-on-one situations to showcase his offensive prowess and shine. Incidentally, he implies that if los Colchoneros opt for an offensive approach, his team will have the advantage in one-on-one matchups with their players. Looking ahead to the second leg, the Blaugranas have decided not to rely solely on Lamine Yamal, revels the youngster in press conference. “There are some really talented players—world-class veterans who prove it year after year. I don’t think it’s just about me, and even if it were, I wouldn’t care.” While he is their most influential player, they are counting on veterans like Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, and Dani Olmo to step up. Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal, of FC Barcelona. Hansi Flick may bench Marcus Rashford to restore midfield dominance Although Barcelona suffered a surprise defeat against Atlético Madrid, they managed to remain the dominant team on the field, though they showed serious problems in midfield. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal dominated down the wings, though they failed to convert their scoring opportunities. Given this, coach Hansi Flick might bench the Englishman, opting instead for a lineup he has used in previous games. At the latest press conference, Hansi Flick revealed key details of his game plan for the second leg against los Colchoneros. “Everyone on the team needs to be involved and connected, and defend as a unit. When we don’t have the ball, we need to close down spaces and stay compact—that’s how we want to play soccer.” With this in mind, Marcus Rashford starting spot might be in danger to Dani Olmo. Even though the Englishman had several runs and occasions in the first leg, he constantly lost the possession of the ball. For that reason, Atlético Madrid got the chance to dominate in the counterattack. To avoid this, the German coach may bet for Dani Olmo, coupled with Fermin Lopez to bolster midfield dominance, with numerical superiority. Moreover, they could help Pedri and Frenkie de Jong in the base.

Despite being defeated by Atlético Madrid, Barcelona remain hopeful of overturning the result. In fact, Lamine Yamal has sent a message of encouragement to the Culers, issuing a strong warning to the Colchoneros. Even though Barcelona arrived as clear favorites, Atlético Madrid managed to defeat them 2–0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Hansi Flick’s team failed to convert the numerous chances they created, leaving Marcus Rashford exposed. Nevertheless, Lamine Yamal has sent a positive message to the Culers, while also issuing a clear warning to the Colchoneros ahead the second leg. After the defeat against the Colchoneros, Lamine Yamal sent a message of encouragement to Barcelona, issuing a warning for the second leg. “This isn’t over, Culers. We’ll give everything in the return match. All united, always,” he posted, via Instagram. With this, the Spaniard prepares himself for an anticipated comeback of a two-goal difference at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the Champions League. Despite not scoring against Atlético Madrid, Lamine dominated on the pitch, being Barcelona’s most decisive player. He not only shone in dribbling but also constantly created space for his teammates. Nevertheless, Marcus Rashford and Dani Olmo were unable to convert all the opportunities generated by the 18-year-old star, cutting off any offensive possibilities. With Pau Cubarsí’s sending off, the Blaugrana lost full control of the game, conceding a free-kick goal from Julián Álvarez. Despite this, they dominated offensively, having more shots on goal and being the brighter team. For this reason, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona could be aiming for a comeback, relying on greater accuracy in front of goal, which could see the Dani Olmo–Fermín López duo deployed again. Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona is tackled by Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid. Lamine Yamal may need to take a scoring role in Barcelona’s offense Throughout the season, Lamine Yamal has proven to be the key axis of Barcelona’s offense. He is not only decisive in dribbling but also opens up space for his teammates. Nevertheless, the Blaugrana are not at their best in scoring, suffering from dips in form from their forwards, as neither Robert Lewandowski nor Ferran Torres are shining. For this reason, the 18-year-old star will need to take on a more goal-oriented role. Needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, the Blaugrana require scoring power more than ever. For this reason, Fermín López and Dani Olmo could take center stage creatively, while Lamine will need to excel in front of goal. As the team’s top scorer, the 18-year-old star has already shown his scoring ability, so he will need to step up at the forefront on this occasion. Frenkie de Jong’s comeback may prove differential for Barcelona Ahead of the first leg in the Champions League quarterfinals, Hansi Flick had to cope with the difficult absence of Frenkie de Jong in midfield. While Eric García emerged as a decent solution, he was unable to shine offensively, limiting the team’s progression. The Dutchman is set to get playing time against Espanyol, creating significant opportunities to start in the second leg against Atlético Madrid. If Frenkie manages to start in the second leg, the Blaugrana would gain consistency in midfield, as well as an ideal partner for playmaking. This would allow Lamine Yamal and Rashford to receive the ball further up the pitch, creating more opportunities to score and push for a comeback. Nevertheless, Fermín López might need to step up, shining once again offensively, breaking Atlético Madrid’s defense.

Following a brilliant performance against Newcastle United, Barcelona face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. However, coach Hansi Flick is dealing with significant absences, as Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal remain sidelined, forcing changes to the starting lineup. Throughout the 2025–26 season, Barcelona have managed to remain competitive, emerging as candidates to win the Champions League. For today’s match, Hansi Flick faces a difficult challenge, as he goes up against Atlético Madrid in the quarterfinals. However, they will do so without Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong, losing their two starting midfielders. With this in mind, they will be forced to make major changes to their starting lineup. After suffering an injury at the end of February, Frenkie de Jong has remained absent over Barcelona’s last eight matches. Although it seemed he would arrive in time, the Dutchman was unable to receive medical clearance, leaving him out of the first leg against Los Colchoneros. Nevertheless, he could get minutes against Espanyol, arriving in time for the second leg of the quarterfinals. While Marc Bernal was the ideal replacement for the Dutchman, he will also be out for the match against Atlético Madrid. In the previous game, he had to come off just minutes after entering the field, being diagnosed with an ankle sprain that will sideline him for 10 days. Although his recovery period is short, this rules him out of both legs of the Champions League. With this, they lose both of their starting midfielders. In the absence of Frenkie and Bernal, coach Hansi Flick could opt for Eric Garcia as a defensive midfielder. After regaining Jules Koundé, he could leave his position as a full-back and cover the absence of both stars. In addition, Marc Casadó could also play a key role off the bench, offering a more defensive and controlled profile. Nonetheless, the Blaugranas may still struggle to hold the control of the game. Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona is challenged by Nahuel Molina of Atletico de Madrid. Frenkie and Bernal’s absence could boost Dani Olmo starting role Hansi Flick has managed to establish dominance in midfield, relying on Frenkie de Jong or Marc Bernal. With them on the field, Barcelona have been able to gain a privileged control of the ball due to their great vision of play, while maintaining defensive solidity. Therefore, the absence of both midfielders would justify the presence of Dani Olmo as a forward/false 9, as it would balance the build-up and the fluidity of play for the Blaugranas. Although Eric Garcia or Marc Casadó have delivered solid performances, they do not offer the same offensive contribution for Barcelona. With this, coach Hansi Flick could rely on the pairing of Dani Olmo and Fermín López as key pieces, looking to provide constant support to the midfield. Additionally, this could open spaces for Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal to play on the wings, posing a constant threat to Atlético Madrid. Along with this, the presence of Dani Olmo has already proven to be decisive in opening spaces against Los Colchoneros. Moving constantly and supporting Fermin Lopez, he manages to attract opposing defenders, opening spaces behind them. Moreover, he manages to generate numerical superiority in all offensive actions, allowing them to sustain possession longer and have more attacking opportunities.

The Gunners were one of several sides to show interest in the player, with Brendan Rodgers also keen to take him to Saudi Arabia

Hello Rank Squad! It's the first Champions League Takeaway of the week, looking back at Tuesday's action from the First Legs of the Round of 16 - where there were a glut of goals, some games put to bed already, a couple of shocks, and another nadir from perhaps the saddest club in world football right now in Tottenham Hotspur. We start with Spurs' visit to the Metropolitano to play Atletico Madrid, where in the first 15 minutes a catastrophic collapse plumbed new depths in what has already been a disastrous season for the Lilywhites. This time Antonin Kinsky was the man in the firing line, with the young keeper substituted just 15 minutes into his Champions League debut. Atleti hit five, and whilst Spurs managed two in reply to nominally keep them in the tie, this was another brutal night for interim manager Igor Tudor, who has now conceded 14 goals in the four games he has been in charge of - all four of them losses. Surely, this can't go on. We then head to Tyneside, where Newcastle United put in a very impressive performance against a lacklustre Barcelona, and were rewarded with Harvey Barnes' late opener to give them the lead...only to see that wiped out by a Lamine Yamal penalty in injury time after Dani Olmo was felled in the box. Scant reward for a good showing for the Toon, but Barça escaping with a draw despite being nowhere near their best at St. James' Park. In Part Two we look to Istanbul - where Galatasaray repeated their league stage scoreline against Liverpool with a 1-0 win over the Reds at Rams Park, in a game that ended up being a microcosm of Liverpool's season - fragile defensively and wasteful up top; before rounding things off with a chat about Bayern's mesmerising 6-1 win over Atalanta in Bergamo, where Michael Olise dazzled on a night where Bayern ran absolute rings around their opposition, and confirmed their status as one of the outright favourites to win this competition this season. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Real Madrid academy graduate Gonzalo García steals the headlines with a perfect hat-trick as Madrid dismantle Real Betis. With García in red-hot form, can Xabi Alonso find a system that fits both him and Kylian Mbappé into the starting XI, and what does that mean for the increasingly out-of-favour Vinícius Jr? Over in Catalonia, Barcelona make it nine straight La Liga wins thanks to a stunning strike from Dani Olmo. Is anyone capable of stopping Barça’s charge to the title? Plus, Gary & Alex break down the sacking of Rúben Amorim, and debate whether his post-match comments at the weekend suggested he was already looking for the exit. Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has taken aim at the club's critics in the wake of the Dani Olmo registration saga. So why is he so angry, and is the situation even over? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laia Cervelló Herrero, Pol Ballus, Dermot Corrigan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo’s back for the first time in 2025 and he’s got James Horncastle, Pol Ballús and Julien Laurens alongside him to run the rule over all the latest action from across Europe. AC Milan kicked off the new year in style as they fought back from 2-0 down to beat rivals Inter 3-2 in the Supercoppa over in Saudi Arabia as new boss Sérgio Conceição got off to the perfect start. Meanwhile, back on home soil Roma continued their resurgence under Claudio Ranieri with a 2-0 victory in the derby with Lazio. In La Liga the Dani Olmo debacle rumbles on… He’s with Barcelona in Saudi Arabia, but he’s not eligible to play after Spain's football authorities rejected the club’s attempt to register the midfielder. On the pitch, Jude Bellingham atoned for his missed penalty with a 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid snatched a dramatic victory at Valencia to move top of the table. And in France, PSG picked up the first silverware of the season courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s stoppage-time winner in their 1-0 victory over Monaco in the Trophée des Champions over in Doha. Back in Ligue 1, Marseille closed the gap at the top of the table to 7 points courtesy of their big 5-1 win over Le Havre. No German action to speak of as die Winterpause continues - BUT we do have Dortmund v Leverkusen to look forward to on Friday night as the Bundesliga finally returns. Produced by Lucy Oliva. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moments of the weekend (00.45) • PART 2: Serie A review - Milan stun Inter in the Supercoppa while Roma beat Lazio (08.15) • PART 3: La Liga review - Olmo saga rumbles on as Real leave it late to go top (20.00) • PART 4: Ligue 1 review - PSG lift first silverware as Marseille and Lyon continue good form (32.55) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new financial fair play / registration crisis at Barcelona as a judge backs La Liga's determination that they cannot register Dani Olmo under La Liga FFP, setting him up for free agency. But Barcelona's financial situation has changed a lot in the last couple years, and the possible negative effects of this are not as stark as they were potentially in the past. And we talk a little about how Barca lost their lead in the table. El Confidential on the court ruling: https://www.elconfidencia...

Christian and Alexis break down Barcelona’s current registration issues with Dani Olmo and why it may result in him leaving the club. Then, Christian and Alexis recap all the MLS offseason news including two head coach hirings and some big transfer news. Later, Christian and Alexis bring back Rápido Reactions to give us some potential January transfers for struggling club across Europe.