Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, returns in midweek with the fate of some Nigeria internationals already decided and some hanging by a thread.
Peter Olayinka shone like a million stars for Slavia Prague against Inter Milan and Barcelona but his best efforts have yielded just two points for the Czech champions who remain rooted to the foot of Group F.
Any of Barca, Inter and Dortmund can still make it to the knockout phase but the end of the road stare the Super Eagles forward and his teammates in the face, a situation that would be confirmed should the Germans win at the Camp Nou or the Italians bag all three points in Czech on Match Day 5.
Despite Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen smashing in two goals in four Champions League games for the French side, Lille are out of this season’s competition.
The odds were always stacked against Les Dogues especially when placed in the same group as former European champions Chelsea and Ajax plus La Liga side Valencia. Each of these three sides has 7 points with Lille boasting just one.
Ajax are expected in France on Wednesday where another defeat for the hosts will damage the last flicker of hope they may retain for a Europa League ticket.
Iyayi Atiemwen and his club Dinamo Zagreb have it all to do as they seek for the precious points that would guarantee safe passage to the next stage of the Champions League.
The Croatian champions currently sit in third place with the same five points as second-placed Shakhter Donetsk, knowing that any slip up against bottom club Atalanta on Tuesday could be disastrous to their European journey.
The Nigerian duo of Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey have had their Champions League hopes dashed after their Belgian club Genk picked just 1 point from a possible 12.
Liverpool and Napoli are slugging it out for the leadership of the group while Salzburg are poised to pick the Europa League ticket as consolation but Genk will return home empty handed once the group stage fixtures are concluded in December.
Despite his heroics at the Santiago Bernabeu where he netted a fine double, Emmanuel Dennis has not been able to help Club Brugge outwit both Real Madrid and PSG.
The La Liga and the Ligue 1 giants faceoff on Tuesday in Spain where a victory for the hosts will confirm Brugge’s elimination from the competition, no matter the result of their matchup with Galatasaray.