March, 5 2023.
On a weekend when virtually all top Nigerian strikers in Europe fired blank, Samuel Chukwueze was the marked difference, pulling off another sterling performance by grabbing two major assists for Villarreal CF, in their comfortable 2-0 win over UD Almeria in a Spanish La Liga Day-23 fixture.
First, it was Victor Osimhen whose run of scoring in eight consecutive games for SSC Napoli, ended with a home loss to SS Lazio, and it was same for Ademola Lookman whose club, Atalanta Bergamo drew goalless with Udinese in Serie A.
Paul Onuachu is yet to score since arriving in England, and the gangling striker also fired blank on Saturday in Southampton's 1-0 victory over Leicester City, for which Kelechi Iheanacho failed to score.
Remarkably, Super Eagles Winger Samuel Chukwueze who has been in some superb form lately, was exquisitely impressive from the right wing, from where he combined with Gerald Moreno to net the first goal, after 76th minute of play. He also played a part, as the Yellow Sub-marines doubled their advantage at the 97th minute, by setting up Jose Luis Morales to finish off greatly.
Villarreal FC are now seventh on the La Liga log, with 34 points from 23 matches, just as Rayo Vallecano, who are 6th but better placed with a superior goals difference and both sides are still with chances of grabbing places for next season's European Football.
Villarreal will be away to Belgian side Anderlecht, in the UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 first leg match in Belgium, on Thursday.