It wasn’t a bad outing for Nigerian players abroad over the weekend as they were involved in ten (10) goals contribution – six (6) goals scored and four (assists) registered.
Upon being subbed for Belgian international, Hugo Cuypers in the 80th minute for Gent against Sporting Charleroi, Gift Orban scored the third goal to propel his side to a 3-1 victory. Moroccan player, Tarik Tissoudali (18th minute) and Julien Desart (59th minute penalty) recorded the first and second goal respectively, while Marco Ilaimaharitra pulled one back for Charleroi before stoppage time. In the same vein, Jordan Torunarigha was in defence for Gent all through the game.
Paul Onuachu led the line for Trabzonspor as they travelled to face Fenerbahce at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. Onuachu broke the deadlock ten minutes into the game, assisted by Bosnian international, Edin Visca and they eventually grab 3-2 success at the end. Berat Ozdemir and former Arsenal player, Nicolas Pepe – who was located by Abdulkadir Omur registered the second and third goal for the winners, whereas Dusan Tadic’s brace from penalties (61st and 90th minute) were the goals of the host – who had Bright Osayi-Samuel holding the right-back position. Bright’s teammate, Ismail Yuksek didn’t complete the game after receiving a second yellow in the 78th minute – and Onuachu was subbed for Enis Destan six minutes earlier.
Ola Aina received a pass from English player, Harry Toffolo and shoot into the net to break the deadlock in the 5th minute in Nottingham Forest’s game with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at City Ground. Orel Mangala doubled the lead with another assist provided by Toffolo in the 47th minute to see out the game in a 2-0 result. Aina was substituted for Neco Williams in the 86th minute and Taiwo Awoniyi also in Steve Cooper’s team, who couldn’t score was off for Danilo in the 82nd minute.
Kenneth Omeruo’s header in the 54th minute from Aytac Kara’s delivery (free-kick) was Kasimpasa’s goal in 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray at Rams Park in Istanbul. Former Crystal Palace player, Wilfried Zaha earned the host all three points with a brace in the 33rd and 51st minute respectively.
Loanee from Watford, Samuel Kalu put Lausanne in front in the 71st minute for Lausanne versus Lugano in the Swiss Super League. Kalu also created the assist for Brighton Labeau to score his side’s second goal eight minutes later and Dominik Schwizer hit the net in the latter stages to make it three – while Jonathan Sabbatini recorded Lugano’s goal in the 75th minute, thus 3-1 scoreline at Stade de la Tuiliere. Martin Marques (Lugano player) was sent off in the 70th minute.
Olakunle Olusegun, who replaced Ilzat Akhmetov in the 46th minute, registered Krasnodar’s second goal off Joao Bachiessa’s pass in the 73rd minute as they beat Krylya Sovetov 2-1 at home. Colombian international, Jhon Cordoba had earlier opened the scoring in the 16th minute – and Russian player, Vladimir Pisarsky, who was set up by compatriot, Nikolai Rasskazov netted the visitors’ goal five minutes to full-time. Moses Cobnan could only make Krasnodar’s bench.
Victor Boniface had two assists for Bayer Leverkusen in their 3-2 triumph at Hoffenheim (PreZero Arena). Boniface set up Florian Wirtz to finish off the opener nine minutes into the game and claimed his second after Alejandro Grimaldo fired home his team’s third. Grimaldo pulled off the second goal with assist provided by Jonas Hofmann before half-time break. Similarly, Anton Stach (56th minute) and Wout Weghorst (58th minute) scored for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Hoffenheim. Kevin Akpoguma was in defence for the host before making way for Bambase Conte in the latter stages. Boniface now leads assists and goals charts (5 and 7) in Xabi Alonso’s team so far this season.
Elsewhere, Ademola Lookman assisted Gianluca Scamacca to beat Yann Sommer for Atalanta’s goal a minute after the hour mark against Inter Milan at Gewiss Stadium – though they were beaten 2-1 by Simone Inzaghi’s side; thanks to Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike from the spot-kick in the 40th minute and Lautaro Martinez, aided by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (57th minute). Gian Piero Gasperini subbed Lookman for Charles Deketelaere with ten minutes left and they were also reduced to ten men after Rafael Toloi was sent off before full-time whistle.
Frank Onyeka freed Neal Maupay for the opener in a five-goal encounter (3-2) that went in favour of Brentford versus West Ham United at the Brentford Community Stadium. The other two goals from Thomas Frank’s men came off Konstantinos Mavropanos (own goal – 55th minute) and Nathan Michael Collins’ header from Mathias Jensen’s cross in the 69th minute. Mohammed Kudus’ top-notch finish (19th minute) and Jarrod Bowen (26th minute) are goals from David Moyes’ side.
Adeleke Akinyemi was a starter upfront in Karvina’s home game with Banik Ostrava. Akinyemi couldn’t find the bank of the net – and David Moses equally started for the same team though he was subbed for Jiri Bederka with few minutes left on the clock, while Lucky Ezeh was subbed on for Lukas Budinsky in the hour mark. In the other end, Abdullahi Tanko was the point man, he fired blank and departed the tie for Matej Sin in the 73rd minute & David Fadairo didn’t go beyond the bench. Pavel Hapal’s Ostrava came out tops at the end of proceedings (3-1), with goals coming off Ewerton from Gigli Ndefe’s cross (49th minute), David Buchta through Filip Kubala’s effort (53rd minute) and Buchta’s second aided by Ewerton (59th minute), while Budinsky scored for Juraj Jarabek’s Karvina in the 25th minute (before his substitution later in the game).
Terem Moffi failed to record a goal for Nice as they play host to Rennes at Allianz Riviera – and he was subbed for Sofiane Diop in the 80th minute. Jeremie Boga (45th minute) and Steve Mandanda’s own goal in the 87th minute ensured he was in the winning team (2-0). The game had two red cards; Youssouf Ndayishimiye for Nice in the 75th minute and Warmed Omari for opposition ten minutes later.
Victor Olatunji had 18 minutes under his belt for Sparta Prague versus Bohemians after replacing Jan Kuchta. Olatunji and his teammates were ready for it, winning 2-0 at Epet Arena. Veljko Birmancevic (penalty – 68th minute) and Lukas Sadilek (81st minute); the goals that did it for Brian Priske’s Prague.
Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi represented Salernitana upfront as they face-off Napoli at Stadio Arechi. Ikwuemesi didn’t get a goal and was substituted for Trivante Stewart in the 69th minute, while Victor Osimhen was absent for Rudi Garcia’s team due to injury but they defeated Filippo Inzaghi’s men 2-0. Giacomo Raspadori (13th minute) and Eljif Elmas (82nd minute) made the scoresheet for the travellers.
While Alhassan Yusuf played the entirety of the game for Antwerp against Genk at Bosuil Stadion, Chidera Ejuke watched from the bench. Similarly, Tolu Arokodare was a 62nd minute substitute for Genk, taking the place of Swiss player, Andi Zeqiri and Yira Sor was only present on the bench. Mark Van Bommel’s Antwerp recorded a 3-2 victory over Wouter Vrancken’s Genk after 90 minutes of action.
Igoh Ogbu and Muhamed Tijani were involved for Slavia Prague against Viktoria Plzen at Fortuna Arena. Ogbu was in defence all through the game and Tijani took the place of Mojmir Chytil in the 62nd minute, while injury didn’t allow Rafiu Durosinmi taste action for Plzen but they won 2-1.
Isaac Success failed to record a goal for Udinese in their visit to AC Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Gabriele Cioffi subbed off Success for Lorenzo Lucca in the 84th minute and Maduka Okoye was seen on the bench, while Kingsley Ehizibue was sidelined due to injury. Samuel Chukwueze also missed action for Stefano Pioli’s Milan due to injury. Roberto Pereyra hit the ball past Mike Maignan via a spot-kick in the 62nd minute to give Udinese an away win (1-0).
In Czech Republic, Ahmad Ghali featured for Slovan Liberec against Ceske Budejovice at Stadion U Nisy. Ghali was later subbed for Denis Visinsky in the 59th minute and in the same team, Okoh Michael Chidera couldn’t make it past the bench. However, Quadri Adediran and Wale Musa-Alli were substitutes for Budejovice. Adediran stepped onto the pitch for Jirik Skalak in the 69th minute and Wale came on for Matous Nikl in the 46th minute. Luka Kulenovic scored from Dominik Preisler’s delivery in the 61st minute to earn Lubos Kozel’s Liberec 1-0 glory over Marek Nikl’s side.
Emmanuel Dennis started for Basaksehir in their clash with Ankaragucu in the Turkish Super Lig. Dennis misfired and exited the game for Serdar Gurler in the 66th minute. It finished 3-3, a point each to both teams.
Guille Abascal featured Victor Moses in Spartak Moscow’s visit to Lokomotiv Moscow at RZD Arena in Russia. Moses replaced Jesus Medina in the 46th minute and didn’t have much impact as the game ended a goal apiece. Quincy Promes teed up Russian player, Anton Zinkovsky to score for Spartak in the 53rd minute – and another Russian international, Artem Dzyuba put in the equaliser for Lokomotiv in the 64th minute. Mikhail Galaktionov’s Spartak – Daniil Khlusevich to be specific was red-carded in the 38th minute.
Ifeanyi Matthew tasted every minute of action for Zurich in midfield as they welcome Servette at Letzigrund Stadion. Matthew’s presence wasn’t enough to claim a point for his side, thus they suffered 2 nil loss. Bosnian international, Miroslav Stevanovic (the visitor’s player) was sent off a minute before the end of the clash.
Kelechi Nwakali also featured in midfield for Chaves against Benfica, but not so much was made from his inclusion to salvage a point for his team, thereby falling off (2-0) at home. Fredrik Aursnes (59th minute) and Joao Mario’s penalty in the 80th minute sealed it for Benfica – and Chaves’ coaching staff, Luis Morgado was shown a red card in the 80th minute.
Defensive midfielder, Ededem Essien was available for Pari Nizhny Novgorod versus CSKA Moscow at VEB Arena. Essien didn’t shield the backline well enough and was replaced by Georgian player, Nikoloz Kutateladze in the 82nd minute. Consequently, they conceded three, thereby losing 3-2.
Former Everton player, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey made Marco Silva’s Fulham team that faced Manchester United at Craven Cottage. Iwobi was ousted for Raul Jimenez in the 89th minute, while Bassey played every minute and Fulham held their own, until Bruno Fernandes’ late goal settled it for Erik ten Hag’s team.
Solomon John had only two minutes on the pitch when Marek Kulic introduced him for Florent Poulolo in Mlada Boleslav’s visit to Teplice. Jan Knapik’s goal in the late minute for Zdenko Frtala’s Teplice was what separated both teams.
Akor Adams was in the attack for Montpellier against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. PSG defenders kept Adams in check and as a result, no goal in sight – leading to his substitution for Sacha Delaye in the 83rd minute and they were outclassed by Luis Enrique’s side in a 3-0 result. Kang-In Lee (10th minute), Warren Zaire-Emery (58th minute) and Vitinha (66th minute) made PSG’s scoresheet.
