There will be no end of the season trophy celebrations for the Nigeria international and his teammates as Les Dogues crashed out of a second cup competition in the space of nine days.
Just over a week after being knocked out of the Coupe de la Ligue on penalties by Lyon, Victor Osimhen and Lille have been dumped out of the Coupe de France by lowly Epinal following a 2-1 defeat at the Stade de la Colombière on Wednesday evening.
Coach Christophe Galtier started Osimhen on the bench, but it was all good when striker Loic Remy handed the visitors the lead after just eight minutes. However, a quick-fire brace from Jean-Philippe Krasso early in the second half turned the game in favour of the National 2 side.
Immediately after, Osimhen was thrown into the fray, but there was little the former Sporting Charleroi man could do as Lille succumbed to their fourth defeat in five games.
In the Copa del Rey, super-sub Samuel Chukwueze provided an assist as Villarreal progressed to the next stage of the competition with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano.
With the game heading towards a goalless draw, Villarreal manager Javier Calleja sent the Super Eagles star to the pitch in the 75th minute and it was a decision that paid off.
Fernando Niño’s strike in the 83rd minute gave Villarreal the lead before Chukwueze provided the assist for Santi Cazorla’s goal and Villarreal’s second.
At the Giuseppe Meazza, former Nigeria international Victor Moses made his debut for Inter Milan, six days after joining the Nerazzurri, to help Antonio Conte’s side defeat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Coppa Italia.
The on-loan Chelsea winger replaced Antonio Candreva in the 74th minute.
Inter Milan led 1-0 at the break courtesy of Candreva’s 44th-minute strike, but Caceres snatched an equaliser on the hour mark for the visitors against the run of play.
Nevertheless, Barella’s brilliant finish from just outside the area seven minutes later restored the home team’s advantage to secure passage to the next phase of the competition.
