UYL: Real Madrid's Akinlabi Bags Assist; Juventus' Iweru Solid; Man City's Nmecha, Ogbeta Crash Out

Published: November 27, 2018

How players of Nigerian descent fared on match day five of the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday, November 27.

Manchester City won't be able to progress to the knockout rounds of the competition following their 2-0 loss to Olympique Lyon at Groupama OL Academy Décines-Charpieu.

There were starts for defender Nathanael Ogbeta and midfielder Felix Nmecha, while Oluwatimilehin Sobowale, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru were left out of the 18 by manager Paul Harsley.

Goals either side of half-time from Hamza Rafia and Oumar Solet condemned the Citizens to defeat. Nmecha got replaced on 76 minutes.

In Group G, Real Madrid preserved their one hundred percent record after hammering Roma 6-1 at Stadio Tre Fontane.

With the Spaniards already through to the knockout rounds before today's fixture, Marvin Akinlabi was handed his first start by manager Daniel Algaba and was substituted on the hour mark.

The attacking midfielder, who is on the radar of the Nigerian Federation, provided the assist for Real Madrid's second goal scored by Rodrigo Rodrigues.

Real Madrid's other scorers were Mario Gila, Miguel Gutiérrez and Pedro; Alessio Riccardi netted a consolation for Alberto De Rossi's side.

Remaining in Italy, the Group H encounter between Juventus and Valencia ended 3-0 in favour of the Bianconeri thanks to goals from Hans Nicolussi Caviglia (2) and Manolo Portanova.

Italy U19 international Paolo Gozzi Iweru went the distance for the second successive game in the UYL, playing as a central defender.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : realmadrid.com