The Catalan stepped up when Ibai Gómez's side needed him most. In a match Real Zaragoza had to come from behind in, Jardí had not been especially involved until that point, but his trademark left foot ultimately proved decisive in closing out the game and securing a fifth consecutive victory.
First, he found Pau Sans with a long ball behind the Teruel defense, allowing the academy graduate to score the third goal. He then put the finishing touch to the game with Real Zaragoza's fourth, taking advantage of a shot that also benefited from a touch off an opposing defender. It was another impressive display from a Real Zaragoza player who is emerging as one of the most in-form performers in the whole of Primera RFEF.
The Catalan is Real Zaragoza's player with the most minutes. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
The recognition he is receiving also confirms that impression. Jardí has already been nominated for the MVP award twice in just six matchdays. The first came after his spectacular performance against Juventud de Torremolinos, when he scored a superb direct free-kick, played a decisive role in another goal and provided two assists for Diego González and Saidu. Now, the Real Zaragoza player will compete for the sixth matchday's best-player award against Huesca's Luismi Redondo, Extremadura's Rodrigo Escudero and Alcorcón's Miguel Berlanga.
A DIFFERENCE-MAKER
The numbers explain much of Jardí's importance to this Real Zaragoza side. The winger is the squad's most-used player and has also been directly involved in more of the team's goals than anyone else. Of the 12 goals the team has scored, Jardí has been directly involved in 10, a figure that reflects his ability to make a difference as well as his importance in Ibai Gómez's attack.
As a result, following a hesitant start to the season, Jardí has become one of the most recognizable faces of this new Real Zaragoza. He does not always need to be the best player on the pitch to leave his mark: he appears in important moments, possesses goalscoring ability, a powerful strike and the courage to take players on, along with that game-changing ability to create the feeling that something could happen whenever the ball reaches his left foot. Those qualities could help him receive individual recognition from the whole division once again.
