You would have never guessed that this was Enis Bardhi’s first goal of the entire season.
After being set up nicely by Jorge de Frutos – La Liga’s most prolific assist-creator – the Levante midfielder slotted the most composed of finishes beyond a despairing Jan Oblak.
Some of Europe’s very best have been guilty of choking when finding themselves one-on-one with the monstrous Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. But Bardhi never looked like missing for a second.
“Very happy. Hopefully we continue at this level,” the North Macedonia international reflected after a 1-1 draw with the runaway La Liga leaders, a game in which he produced arguably his finest display of an injury-hit season.
“I’m happy with my return after my injury, glad to be on the pitch.”
Levante fans will share his enthusiasm.
With 19 goals in the last three La Liga campaigns, Bardhi, a free-kick specialist and maybe the most underrated player in Spanish football, could hardly have returned at a better time for a Levante side chasing a Europa League spot.
Yet, with just one year left on his contract, doubts persist about whether Bardhi will still be strutting his stuff at the heart of Levante’s midfield next term – even if The Frogs do hop over Real Betis and co into seventh place.
The Mail reported in January that Newcastle United are firm admirers of a 25-year-old play-maker who looks every-inch the man to give Steve Bruce’s blunt forward-line some much-needed cutting edge.
After a headline-making goal against Diego Simeone’s all-conquering Atleti, expect to see Bardhi in the gossip columns more often.
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