It’s fair to say a league goal has been a long time in coming for Andre Gomes.
Almost four years to the day, to be precise. The last time the Portugal international hit the net in a top-flight fixture, he was sharing the Goodison Park dressing room with Richarlison, Morgan Schneiderlin, Kurt Zouma and Bernard.
That thumping finish against Wolves in February 2019 didn’t exactly count for much either. A consolation in an eventual 3-1 home defeat.
At least the goal that brought an overdue end to Gomes’ seemingly never-ending drought mattered a little more. He twisted, he turned and, eventually, he finished; an incisive, almost surgical strike locating the bottom corner and slathering a layer of icing on top of a fine Lille performance away from home at Champions League-chasing Rennes.
Everton loanee Andre Gomes is shining in France for Lille
“Magnificent,” beams Lille coach Paulo Fonseca; hailing Gomes’ influence since joining the 2021 Ligue 1 champions on loan from Everton in September (Ouest France).
“Andre Gomes is a player at another level. It’s very easy to see that he is very important to us. He’s a great player. He has a lot of experience, and has played for big clubs.”
The Portugal international has never been the most prolific of midfielders; his game revolving around his craft and guile rather than a tendency to trouble the scoresheet. In fact, during spells at Benfica, Valencia and Barcelona, Gomes’ most prolific campaign came in 2015/16; hitting the back of the net five times for Los Che.
So any of you expecting that 94th minute decider at Rennes to be the beginning of a purple patch, let’s just say we’d advise against holding your breath.
But, with Gomes’ Everton career seemingly a thing of the past, the 29-year-old can will undoubtedly give his hopes of earning a permanent contract at Lille no harm with a few more stoppage-time strikes between now and the end of May.
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