Samuel Chukwueze Stars As Villarreal Punish Granada

A few days after helping Nigeria clinch an automatic ticket to the 2022 Afcon, the Super Eagles star returned to action for the Yellow Submarine’s convincing win

Samuel Chukwueze was a second-half substitute as a Gerrard Moreno hat-trick helped Villarreal thrash Granada 3-0 at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes. 

Chukwueze played in both of Nigeria’s victories over the Benin Republic and Lesotho in late March and was only named on the bench as Unai Emery’s men made the trip to mid-table Granada.

The Nigeria international then replaced Ruben Pena just after the half-hour mark, with the Yellow Submarines Already leading three-nil thanks to Moreno’s 9th-minute penalty and two other efforts in each half.

The win lifts Villarreal to fifth on the league table on 46 points, nine behind Sevilla, the team that occupies the last Champions League spot.

Chukwueze has managed just one goal, and two assists in 23 La Liga matches but only nine of those have been starts.

The 21-year-old winger has contributed three goals (one goal, two assists) to Villarreal’s Europa League charge.

On the international scene, the former Golden Eaglets star scored twice in six group matches for Nigeria during the 2022 Afcon qualifying series.