Trincao proves to be Koeman's latest success story

Barcelona endured yet another difficult match, but eventually emerged victorious against Real Betis, as they have on so many similar occasions this term, yet it was Francisco Trincao who proved to be Ronald Koeman's latest success story.

The Portuguese player scored his first goal of the season at a key moment for Los Cules, with a defeat to the Andalusian club having likely ended their slim hopes of regaining the Spanish championship.

Koeman's debut season in charge at the Camp Nou has been characterised by him helping a number of players reach their optimum level, with Trincao just the latest example.

"He is young, he has to adapt to the level of a big club like Barcelona," Koeman said of Trincao after the game.

"We have given him minutes, and in recent games he has had bad luck missing chances.

"Today he was decisive and that's important for him and us."

Trincao entered the last 30 minutes of the match on Sunday without contributing too much previously, but he took on a leading role in Los Cules' comeback.

"My teammate help me a lot, I didn't need to score I just needed to do my job," Trincao added.

"You have to help and I'm very happy for the team and for this victory.

"We changed our attitude in the second half and that was the mot important thing for the victory."

Barcelona are accustomed to living dangerously this season, with the Blaugrana having fallen behind in 11 of the 21 matches they've played in LaLiga Santander this term.

In those matches they have won three, drawn four and lost four, which is hardly a glowing record, but it highlights the struggles the team had at the beginning of the campaign.

The new year has been incredibly kind to Koeman's team though, with Barcelona still yet to taste defeat since the turn of the year.

They have strung together a number of victories over Huesca, Athletic Club, Granada, Elche and Real Betis, and they sit now seven points behind leaders, Atletico Madrid.

Not since March of 2019 has a Barcelona team chained together six successive league victories, yet this is something that Koeman can claim as his own achievement.