Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin has praised the outstanding performance of Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika during the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The match, hosted at the Jan Breydel Stadium, saw Onyedika return to Champions League action for Club Brugge as they faced off against the former German champions.
In the first half, both teams were evenly matched, creating chances from the very beginning. However, neither side managed to score, and the half ended 0-0. The balance continued in the second half until the 76th minute, when Jamie Gittens put Dortmund ahead with a well-taken goal.
Just ten minutes later, Gittens struck again with a precise finish from inside the box, doubling Borussia Dortmund’s lead. Serhou Guirassy then sealed the win with a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time, securing a 3-0 victory for the visitors.
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Despite Club Brugge’s defeat, Onyedika stood out with a solid performance. The 23-year-old Super Eagles midfielder recorded 67 touches, made two interceptions, and completed four tackles. His 67 touches were the second highest for Club Brugge during the match.
After the game, Borussia Dortmund coach Sahin expressed his admiration for Onyedika’s performance, acknowledging that Dortmund’s strategy was to neutralize the Nigerian midfielder but that their plan did not succeed.
“We knew that Club Brugge’s play revolved around Raphael Onyedika, but we were unable to keep him out of the game,” Sahin admitted in his post-match comments.
Since joining Club Brugge two seasons ago, Onyedika has been a key player for the Belgian side. His consistent performances suggest that he may soon attract attention from bigger European clubs.
