Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko has admitted that replacing suspended Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika will be a major challenge, as the Belgian side prepares for the UEFA Champions League second-leg encounter against Atlético Madrid.

Onyedika delivered a standout performance in the first leg, scoring once and providing an assist as Club Brugge battled to a 3-3 draw at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

However, the Nigerian international’s impressive outing was tempered when he was booked in the 76th minute, a caution that ruled him out of the return fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Leko acknowledged the difficulty of finding a direct replacement for the Super Eagles midfielder.

The Brugge manager explained that the team does not have a player with exactly the same profile as Onyedika, adding that several tactical options are being considered. 

"It's difficult to replace him one-on-one. We don't immediately have the same profile in our squad," the Croatian manager said. "We have three or four options in mind. I'll first talk to the players about what and how," Leko was quoted as saying by HLN. 

His suspension represents a significant setback for the Belgian side, who will be without a key presence in midfield as they pursue a positive result and a place in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Adeyemi Adewale