Dani Olmo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Olmo's journey at RB Leipzig was defined by immediate impact and clutch performances on the biggest stages. After joining in early 2020, he scored his first goal within days of his arrival, netting the only strike in a DFB-Pokal victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. His breakthrough moment came on 13 August 2020, when he scored the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Estádio José Alvalade, propelling Leipzig to their first-ever Champions League semi-final. The following years saw him cement his status as a cup specialist; in the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal final against SC Freiburg, he came on as a substitute and scored in the penalty shoot-out after a dramatic 1–1 draw that ended with a controversial red card for Kevin Kampl. His legacy culminated on 12 August 2023, when he scored all three goals in a hat-trick to secure the DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich, providing the match's only strikes before departing for his boyhood club.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at the Red Bull Arena was electric on 12 August 2023 as RB Leipzig faced their arch-rivals, Bayern Munich, in the DFL-Supercup. Olmo, who had come off the bench to replace Kevin Kampl earlier that season in a consolation goal during a loss to Bayern, returned to write history. Instead of fading into obscurity, he seized the moment with unprecedented brilliance. He scored a hat-trick, providing every single goal Leipzig would score in a dominant performance. The match ended as a testament to his individual quality, with Olmo standing alone as the scorer of all three goals that secured the trophy. This performance was the crowning achievement of his time in Saxony, marking him not just as a participant but as the sole architect of victory against Germany's most successful club before he left for Barcelona later that year.

Reader's Guide

Olmo's time at RB Leipzig (2020–2024) represents a specific era of tactical flexibility and cup dominance. He operated primarily as an attacking midfielder or left winger, making 124 total appearances across his previous club Dinamo Zagreb before arriving, but at Leipzig he became the focal point of their most successful domestic campaigns. Fans should note that while he joined in 2020, his most significant contributions came in cup competitions. He was instrumental in the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal run, scoring in the last-16 tie against Hansa Rostock and converting a penalty in the final shoot-out. His role expanded in Europe as well; he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim on 12 June 2020 and found the net in a 4–0 Champions League win over Atalanta during his debut season there. The period also included a goalless draw against Bayern Munich where he started, and a memorable assist for Izet Hajrović (during his Zagreb days, but indicative of his style) and his own goals that broke tight defenses. His departure in 2024 closed a chapter where Leipzig won two domestic cups and a supercup, with Olmo scoring the decisive hat-trick in the latter.

Did You Know?

• Olmo scored a hat-trick in the 2023 DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich, providing all three goals Leipzig scored in the match.
• He made his first start for Leipzig on 9 February 2020 in a goalless draw against Bayern Munich, coming off in the 69th minute.
• In the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal final, Olmo was substituted at half-time and later scored in the penalty shoot-out after Kevin Kampl was sent off from the bench.
• Olmo scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim on 12 June 2020 during his debut season.
• He scored the opening goal in a historic 2–1 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid, sending Leipzig to their first semi-final.