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Europe’s biggest club competition is back this season with a new format, and Super Eagles stars will feature in some exciting matches this week.
As Nigerian players continue to make their mark on the European stage, there are several individuals who are poised to impress in the UEFA Champions League this week.
Here are some Nigerian players to keep an eye on as the Champions League action unfolds from Tuesday to Thursday:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC MILAN vs. Liverpool) - Tuesday
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After picking up their first league win of the season last Saturday, Chukwueze’s AC Milan will look to replicate this result and performance against a tougher opponent in Liverpool.
The winger was a substitute in Saturday’s win over Venezia, coming on for Christian Pulisic in the 78th minute, and he is yet to directly contribute to a goal this season.
Having started two of four matches played so far this season, Chukwueze will hope to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday.
Victor Olatunji (SPARTA PRAGUE vs. RB Salzburg) - Wednesday
Little known Nigerian forward Olatunji will hope to get some minutes when Czech First League champions Sparta Prague take on Austrian side Salzburg on Wednesday.
The Sokoto-born footballer has appeared 13 times for the Czech side this season and has started six of those games, with the majority of his starts coming in the qualifying round of the UCL.
Olatunji has scored four goals across all competitions this season, with two of those goals coming during the UCL qualifying round.
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella (Feyenoord vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN) - Thursday
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Boniface and Tella both started Leverkusen’s last league against Hoffenheim on Saturday. It was a great game for Boniface, who opened his goal account in the Bundesliga this season by scoring a brace, while he also provided an assist.
Tella also featured in the game for close to an hour, and he will be hoping to start in Leverkusen’s first UCL game since 2022-23.
The German champions almost acheived European glory last season when they finished as runners-up to Ademoola Lookman’s Atlanta, thanks to the forward’s hat trick.
Raphael Onyedika (CLUB BRUGGE vs. Borussia Dortmund) - Wednesday
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The 23-year-old midfielder will hope to inspire the Belgian champions to a win against last season’s Champions League runners-up.
A solid part of the Blauw-Zwart setup, Onyedika has started five league games this season and came on a substitute in the most recent one.
Club Brugge are currently top of the Belgian league and are unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions.
Ademola Lookman (ATALANTA vs. Arsenal) - Thursday
In what is expected to be a tough game against the Gunners, all eyes will be on the forward to produce the goods once again for last season’s Europa League winners.
Peter Olayinka (RED STAR BELGRADE vs. Benfica) - Thursday
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The four-cap Super Eagles forward has featured six times across all competitions for the Serbian league champions this season and has scored two goals while providing one assist.
Having made it into the group stage via the playoff round, Red Star Belgrade will hope to pull off a win against a top Benfica side.
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