Nigeria Stars Abroad: Azeez, Oshoala scores; Osimhen, Chukwueze stars; Iwobi, Abraham stumble

Ramon Azeez was the pick of Nigeria stars at the weekend as the former youth international helped his side Granada down Barcelona in the La Liga.

There were also top performing Nigerians in France, Belgium and more in Spain to cap a fine weekend of quality football.

However, there were some poor performers as well and you can trust your beloved Soccernet.ng to bring you the best of the compiled reports.

Victor Osimhen, Rennes 1-1 Lille

Lille picked up a credible draw away to Rennes on Saturday and although their Nigerian import did not score a goal as has become customary, Osimhen still registered an assist.

Victor Osimhen and the Lille attack created six goalscoring chances but the one that mattered arrived after the break. The Super Eagles striker stole the ball off a defender and fed Jonathan Ikone who made no mistake to hand Les Dogues the lead.

Unfortunately, the visitors couldn’t hold their lead and were punished in the 68th minute from a free-kick.

Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Another Premier League start for both Tammy and Tomori but it couldn’t do the trick for the Londoners as Chelsea suffered a first back-to-back defeat of the season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side bagged all three points as the Champions League champions defeated Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Stamford Bridge, the second defeat in four days for the Europa League winners.

Both sides came off the back of stinging losses in the Champions League in midweek but it was the Reds who recovered better to post a narrow victory at the home of the current holders of the Europa League trophy.

Chelsea had more possession, earned more corner kicks, fired more shots and made more passes, but two first half goals from Alexander-Arnold and Firmino got Liverpool back to winning ways and send them five points clear of Manchester City, after the champions walloped Watford 8-0 on Saturday evening.

N’golo Kante got the consolation goal for the Blues.

It is the first time in four league games that Tammy Abraham would not score or assist a goal for Chelsea.

Ramon Azeez, Granada 2-0 Barcelona

Nigeria international Ramon Azeez found the back of the night within the first two minutes of kick off to help Granada secure a stunning 2-0 victory over Barcelona at the Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium on Saturday night.

The hosts, who had only beaten Barca once in their last 20 meetings, took an early lead when Ramon Azeez headed home from close range to make it 1-0 in just the second minute to send the fans into wild jubilation.

Despite Barcelona’s best efforts, it was the home side who capped an energetic display with a second goal in the second half to hand Lionel Messi and co their second loss of the new season.

Paul Onuachu, Genk 3-1 Oostende

Paul Onuachu is proving himself to be a top marksman in his new home -Belgium – when he scored yet again at the weekend to help the Champions defeat Oostende on Saturday in a Jupiler League match at the Luminus Arena.

It was the second goal in three games for the Super Eagles target man.

Genk took the lead under fortuitous circumstances when Ronald Vargas put through his own goal in the 18th minute. But the visitors responded through Idrissa Sylla shortly after.

The Nigerian forward then scored in the 44th minute to restore the home side’s lead.

Genk eventually wrapped up the win the 90th minute through Sander Berge.

Alex Iwobi, Everton 0-2 Sheffield United

Super Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi was a second half substitute in Everton’s unexpected 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield United in Saturday’s English premier league game.

Everton played hosts to the newly promoted side at the Goodison Park, but failed to make the most of their home advantage.

Sheffield took a shock lead five minutes before the half time , after Columbia defender Yeri Mina diverted the ball into his own net.

In response to the set back, Marco Silva introduced Iwobi in place of Morgan Schneiderlin five minutes after the half break , but the Nigerian failed to influence the game, as the visitors grabbed the second goal through Lys Mosseut in the 79th minute.

The defeat however ended a run of five home game without defeat against newly promoted side for Everton.

Asisat Oshoala, Barcelona 6-1 Atletico Madrid

Oshoala finally opened her goals account for the new season as Barca hammer La Liga Femeni champions Atleti 6-1 on Saturday.

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala broke her goalscoring duck in La Liga this season, netting a brace as Barcelona thumped arch rivals Atletico Madrid 6-1 on Saturday.

Oshoala scored the fourth and fifth goals for the Blaugranes either side of the halftime break to extend the hosts lead.

Atletico Madrid got the first goal of the match after just 2 minutes into the match, but Barcelona responded to that early set back to bend the first half with a 4-1 advantage. Two more goals in the second half confirmed Barcelona Women’s superiority and set down a marker for the season’s title race.

Samuel Chukwueze, Villarreal 2-0 Valladolid

Samuel Chukwueze came off the bench and provided an assist as Villarreal worked out a well deserved 2-0 victory over Valladolid on Saturday.

Chukwueze started off the bench, coming on in the 66th minute and he was an instant impact.

The young winger scored a 7.3 rating, as per whoscored.com, in just 24 minutes on the pitch.

He picked out Javier Ontiveros on the far side of the post with a right-footed cross, and the Spanish midfielder headed home to score the match-winner for the host.

Club Legend Santi Cazorla had scored earlier from the penalty spot to give the Yellow Submarines the lead before Ontiveros’s debut goal.