The Champions League returned with all its glamour on Tuesday, and Nigerian players were in the midst of all the action
The Tuesday UEFA Champions League night for Nigerians began with Viktoria Plzen’s 2-0 defeat at home to Inter Milan.
Nigerian striker Fortune Bassey started the game from the bench for the Czech Republic side, but he was thrown into the mix when his team was a man down, two goals down, and only 20 minutes left to play.
Bassey could not offer much, as the Italian giants controlled proceedings. He however did get close in the dying embers of the game, but his towering header was properly dealt with by Andre Onana in the Inter goal.
The game ended 2-0 at the Doosan Arena, and the loss means that Plzen stay rooted to the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, at Merseyside, it was a painful night for Calvin Bassey, as Ajax fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah opened his Champions League account for the season with a beautiful strike in the 17th minute to put Liverpool ahead.
However, Mohammed Kudus pulled one back for the Dutch champions in the 27th minute.
Liverpool piled the pressure, but Ajax stayed strong. Bassey had a strong game, recording five clearances, three interceptions, five tackles, and two stifled shots. In fact, the former Rangers man was the second-best Ajax player after Remko Pasveer on the night.
Unfortunately for Bassey and his teammates, a late header from Joel Matip ensured that Liverpool ran out with the 2-1 win.
In Portugal, it was a shocking night for Zaidu Sanusi and his Porto side, and they got thrashed at home by Raphael Onyedika’s Club Brugge.
Former Barcelona man Ferran Jutgla opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Porto saw put the one-goal deficit till halftime. But the Portuguese giants fell like a pack in the second period. Goals from Kamal Sowah, Skov Olsen, and Antonio Nusa ensured that the Belgian champions ran out winners.
Sanusi had a poor game, and he was taken off in the 76th minute for Wendell. However, compatriot Onyedika had a brilliant game. He could have scored, but the woodwork denied him.
The former Midtjylland man had 45 touches, 87 percent pass accuracy, two clearances, and three tackles.
