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ORIENT, in collaboration with La Liga, continues to publish about Spanish football.

On Friday, March 1, on Turkmenistan Sport TV channel, at 16:55, Ashgabat time, viewers will be able to watch the Spanish La Liga match Espanyol vs Real Valladolid with forward Enes Ünal, who is one of LaLiga’s rising stars, being just 21 years old.

Success has often come early for Ünal as to other talented football players. He scored just three minutes into his senior club debut for Bursaspor against Galatasary in August 2013, becoming the youngest player to net in Turkey's top division at just 16 years and three months.

Such precocity alerted Premier League club Manchester City who signed Ünal in July 2015, with the youngster gaining experience on loan.

The Turkish player performed at Belgian club Genk and Dutch teams NAC Breda and FC Twente, where he scored 18 goals during the 2016–17 season.

That brought a move to Spain, with Villarreal agreeing a permanent transfer in summer 2017. A LaLiga Santander debut came in the season opener at Levante, with a first goal for Villarreal arriving in a 3-1 victory over Real Betis a few weeks later.

Amid all the movement the tall frontman finished his first season with six LaLiga goals, including a memorable quick-fire double to beat Atletico de Madrid 2-1 at the Estadio de la Ceramica in March 2018.

Last August Ünal was on the move again, joining newly-promoted side Real Valladolid on a one-year loan deal. He played a key role in an excellent start on the club’s return to LaLiga Santander.

Such progress in LaLiga has been followed very closely back home in Turkey, where Ünal’s father Mesut played professionally for Bursaspor.

Enes also had much success at underage levels with Turkey and gained a first international senior appearance in March 2015 when aged just 17.

He now has 11 full caps, the most recent of which he picked up in a friendly against Ukraine last November.

All at Valladolid know that despite their excellent first half of the season they will have to battle all the way to stay up, with Ünal looking to meet the challenge of scoring the goals to ensure LaLiga Santander football again next season.

Georgiy ASLANYAN