Club Brugge coach has said they will miss Raphael Onyedika in next week’s return leg UEFA Champions League Playoff against Atletico Madrid through suspension, just as the Spanish press hailed the Super Eagles midfielder.
🔥🚨 Raphael Onyedika's MASTERCLASS vs Atletico Madrid:
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) February 18, 2026
• 1 goal
• 1 assist
• 2 big chances created
• 88 touches
• 13 passes into the final third
• 5 accurate long balls
• 2 tackles
• 7 recoveries pic.twitter.com/6rprc3sENn
Onyedika is suspended for the return leg match Tuesday in Spain after he picked up his second booking Wednesday night when he scored a goal and delivered an assist in a thrilling 3-3 home draw.
Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko said: “We don’t have another Rapha, so we’ll have to find another solution.
“But that’s for next week, now we have to focus on our league match next Saturday. Then the focus shifts to the return leg. We have confidence in our football and believe we can get a result there.”
In the meantime, Onyedika’s display against Atletico has earned him top praise from the Spanish media.
Marca picked out Onyedika as one of the standout performers for Club Brugge, while bashing Atletico Madrid to giving up a 2-0 lead.
Sport said Club Brugge showed resilience and Onyedika was “dynamic”.
The publication reported: “Atlético had already overcome the hardest part, but then their euphoria turned to suffering. The Belgians, however, didn’t collapse, but responded with the dynamism of Onyedika, Tresoldi, and Diakhon.”
