With the 2021-22 season underway in all the major leagues in Europe Nigeria players are in the thick of action for their various clubs and with their sights on picking important points especially this weekend writes www.dasportstainment247.com.
English Premier League enters Week 2 today with Frank Onyeka expected to play another starring role in Brentford to Crystal Palace. The Eagles midfielder who just left his comfort zone in Denmark with Midtjylland was rock solid when the EPL new boys defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the season’s opener last weekend.
At the Elland Road, Alex Iwobi will hope to also build on his impactful start to the season with Everton who trades tackles with host Leeds United today. Iwobi who came in as a substitute got an assist in the Toffees come back from behind 3-1 home win over Southampton.
At the AMEX Stadium, Watford will strive to make it a second successive win when they entertain home team, Brighton & Hove Albion today. William Troost Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo and Emmanuel Dennis who marked his debut with a goal all put in good shifts as the Hornets staged a return to the EPL with a 3-2 home victory over Aston Villa.
While on Monday, the Super Eagles duo of Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho and Leicester City are guests of West Ham United. The Hammers hammered Newcastle United 4-2 at the St’ James’ Park while the Foxes pipped Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.
In ITALY Ola Aina will hope Torino begins the season with a home win against Champions League campaigner, Atalanta today. Aina scored the decisive spot-kick in their Coppa Italia success over Cremonese after the game which ended goalless was won 4-1 via the penalties. The Eagles defender is staging a return to the Serie A year after featuring for Fulham on loan in their abortive spell in the EPL.
At the Stadio Armando Maradona, Victor Osimhen who has had a good pre-season with Napoli will be in the line of duty when the Partenopei welcome Venezia tomorrow. Venezia with Tyrone Ebuehi and David Okereke on their books with the latter on a season-long loan deal from Club Brugge. Venezia will go into the tie still fresh from their Coppa Italia Round of 64 victory over Frosinone.
Ex Under 23 star, Kingsley Michael will hope Bologna head coach, Sinisa Mihajlovic will give him more playing time this season as they start the season with a home fixture against Simy Nwankwo inspired Salernitana. Both clubs have contrasting fortunes in the Round of 64 of the Coppa Italia. Salernitana defeated Reggina 2-0 while Bologna were beaten 5-4 by lower league side, Ternana.
In GERMANY, Super Eagles defender, Kevin Akpoguma’s Hoffenheim will clash with Taiwo Awoniyi’s Union Berlin as the Bundesliga reaches the second week of hostilities. Awoniyi scored in their 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen while Akpoguma was on from start to finish in their 4-0 win at Augsburg.
Forgotten Super Eagles striker, Anthony Ujah who is still a player of Union Berlin has begun training session from the knee injury he suffered since July last year and he is expected to help Union Berlin fight for the top half of the table this season once he is fit.
In the FRENCH LEAGUE, Lorient will go in the hunt for their second win of the season when they travel to Montpellier tomorrow. Terem Moffi with 14 league goals last season got off the mark for Lorient last weekend scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over AS Monaco.
Moses Simon was voted the Man of the Match in Nantes’ 2-0 win over Metz after he bagged the assists for both goals. It was his third assist of the season. The Eagles winger will hopefully be in the lineup for the third successive game as Nantes travel to face Rennes tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the doctors have passed Samuel Kalu fit of not having heart-related disease despite the Eagles’ winger suffering his second collapse in two years last weekend in Bordeaux’s 2-2 draw at Marseille. Kalu fell under his weight in the fifth minute while in the wall put up by his club to defend a Marseille freekick about to be taken by Dmitri Payet. It is unclear if he will be available for the former French League champions tie with Angers tomorrow.
By Tunde Liadi
