Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika will miss the decisive second leg of Club Brugge’s UEFA Champions League playoff clash against Atletico Madrid after picking up a costly booking in the first encounter.
The Nigerian international was cautioned in the 76th minute of Brugge’s pulsating 3-3 draw with the Spanish side at the Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday night. The yellow card, his third of the European campaign, automatically rules him out of the return fixture under UEFA regulations.
Despite the suspension setback, Onyedika delivered a commanding display in the first leg. The 24-year-old opened the scoring for the Belgian champions and later provided the assist for Christos Tzolis’ late equaliser, capping off an influential performance in midfield.
Beyond his goal involvement, the Super Eagles midfielder dictated the tempo of the game with 88 touches, maintained an impressive 90 percent pass accuracy, completed 33 ball carries, made seven recoveries, and created two key chances. His only spoil on the night was the mistimed challenge on Marcos Llorente that resulted in the booking.
Reacting to the suspension, Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko admitted the team will miss the Nigerian midfielder’s presence in Madrid.
“We don’t have another Rapha, so we’ll have to find another way,” Leko told the club’s official website.
The second leg is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Metropolitano Stadium, where Diego Simeone’s men will look to capitalize on home advantage, while Brugge must find a way to cope without one of their standout performers from the first meeting.
