Two Super Eagles players, Raphael Onyedika and Bruno Onyemachi, have seen their UEFA Champions League campaigns end following disappointing knockout play-off results on Tuesday night.
Onyedika was sidelined due to suspension as Club Brugge suffered a 4-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in Spain. The loss sealed a 7-4 aggregate victory for Diego Simeone’s side after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Belgium in the first leg.
Atlético took control midway through the first half when Alexander Sørloth outmuscled his marker to score past Simon Mignolet. Brugge briefly leveled the tie on aggregate through Joel Ordóñez following a Brandon Mechele flick-on, but the Spanish side reasserted dominance after the break.
Johnny Cardoso restored Atlético’s lead early in the second half, before Sørloth completed a hat-trick with two further strikes — one following a neat interplay involving substitutes Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann, and another from a late corner. The win extended Atlético’s unbeaten run in Champions League knockout regulation matches and sent them into the Round of 16, where they will face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles defender Onyemachi also bowed out as Olympiacos were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen. After a 2-0 first-leg loss in Greece, Olympiacos needed a strong performance in Germany but were held to a goalless draw at the BayArena, confirming Leverkusen’s 2-0 aggregate victory.
The Bundesliga side managed the game efficiently, protecting their advantage against Olympiacos’ sporadic attacks, and secured safe passage into the last 16.
Elsewhere, Bodø/Glimt continued their Champions League fairytale by eliminating Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate, while Newcastle United cruised into the last 16 with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag FK.
