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		</div><p>Barcelona boss Ronal Koeman always felt Lionel Messi would be ready to make a difference after the Argentina playmaker came off the bench to score twice in Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over 10-man Real Betis at the Nou Camp.</p>
<p>Following the midweek Champions League win against Dynamo Kyiv, Koeman opted to keep Barcelona’s talisman in reserve as his side looked to get their LaLiga campaign back on track.</p>
<p>Ousmane Dembele gave the hosts the lead after 22 minutes before Antoine Griezmann’s penalty was saved and Antonio Sanabria then drew Betis level in first-half stoppage time.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">âHe was not fit enough to start today, but of course his presence in the second half was really important. â<br /> — <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldKoeman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonaldKoeman</a>, on Leo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a>&#39;s role in the 5-2 win over Betis <a href="https://t.co/SOa8f51sJ1">pic.twitter.com/SOa8f51sJ1</a></p>
<p>&mdash; FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1325132338519568386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Messi, though, made an instant impact as his instinctive stepover set up Griezmann five minutes after the restart.</p>
<p>Barcelona’s captain then took responsibility from the spot after Aissa Mandi was shown a red card for handball on the line following a VAR review to rifle the penalty past Claudio Bravo.</p>
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<p>Although Loren Moron pulled a goal back for Betis with 15 minutes left, Messi added another well-crafted goal before Pedri scored a fifth in stoppage time to seal a first LaLiga win in five games for Koeman’s side.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MESSI IS BACK. </p>
<p>(not to mention the &#39;assist&#39; for Griezmann&#39;s goal&#8230; ð±)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bar%C3%A7aRealBetis?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BarçaRealBetis</a> <a href="https://t.co/1dbCxcnGq7">pic.twitter.com/1dbCxcnGq7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaLigaEN/status/1325128224129519623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>“Since yesterday we discussed that he (Messi) had some discomfort since the game against Dynamo Kyiv,” Koeman told reporters after the game, according to Marca.</p>
<p>“We talked and decided that the best thing was to leave him on the bench in case we needed him. Without discomfort, he would have played.</p>
<p>“We know who he is and I have no doubts about him. I see him working every day.</p>
<p>“He was not fit enough to start today, but of course his presence in the second half was really important.</p>
<p>Koeman felt his side had deserved victory.</p>
<p>“We had many opportunities and missed the penalty and we only went in 1-1 at half-time,” the Dutchman said. “But in the second half we kept the team spirit and could have scored more than five.</p>
<p>“It is an important victory – we needed the three points after the last results. In general the team was good and the victory is deserved.”</p>
<p>Barcelona moved up to eighth, one point behind Betis.</p>
<p>Los Verdiblancos coach Manuel Pellegrini felt his side acquitted themselves well.</p>
<p>“We are on the right track,” he said.</p>
<p>“It was very tight until 2-1, but with the sending-off our chances disappeared.”</p>
<p>Pellegrini had little complaints over the red card, which was given after referee Guillermo Cuadra opted to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.</p>
<p>“The referee is on the field, not the VAR,” he said,</p>
<p>“If the referee gives the penalty and sends off Mandi, I have nothing to say, but if the VAR does, then I have to complain.”</p>
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