11 in a row for Ilaix Moriba

The name of Ilaix Moriba is coming to be a familiar one. Wearing the number 27 the talented Barça B midfielder has made 11 consecutive appearances for the first team, all of them coming off the bench as a substitute. Ronald Koeman sees him as a key weapon in maintaining an advantage in a game yet the La Masia product has many other virtues aside from his strength defensively. 

The run of 11 game started on 27 February in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán against Sevilla. Ilaix came on with 20 minutes to go with Barça 1-0 up. It was the 18 year old third appearance for the first team and that day he showed just why he considered one of La Masia's brightest prospects, helping the blaugranes close out a vital win in a difficult away game.  

These are the 11 consecutive appearances for Ilaix Moriba with FC Barcelona: 

1. Sevilla 0 - Barça 2. Comes on in minute 70.
2. Barça 3 - Sevilla 0. Comes on in minute 78.
3. Osasuna 0 - Barça 2. Comes on in minute 67 and scores the second in the win. 
4. PSG 1 - Barça 1. Comes on in minute 79
5. Barça 4 - Huesca 1. Comes on in minute 69.
6. Real Societat 1 - Barça 6. Comes on in minute 67 and provides an assist for the fifth goal. 
7. Barça 1 - Valldolid 0. Comes on in minute 76.
8. Real Madrid 2 - Barça 1. Comes on in minute 72 and hits the post in the last seconds. 
9. Athletic Club 0 - Barça 4. Comes on in minute 81. 
10. Barça 5 - Getafe 2. Comes on at half time.
11. Villarreal 1 - Barça 2. Comes on in minute 63.

First goal and first trophy  

In Pamplona against Osasuna the midfielder scored his first ever goal with the Barça first team, grabbing the second in a 2-0 win in El Sadar. A move involving Pedri and Messi was finished off by the Barça B player with a powerful left footed effort. 

Moriba's first trophy came not long after as part of the team that claimed the 2021 Copa del Rey title with a 4-0 win over Athletic Club in the final. Silverware is nothing new to the Guinean born Spanish youth international as he has also won a host of league titles and trophies during his progress through the youth teams at FC Barcelona.

The midfielder came to La Masia some 11 years ago and has the character of a born winner. A player for the future and for the present and he is sure to continue to be a key member of Ronald Koeman's squad as the race for the La Liga title continues.