Villarreal coach Quique Setien called Nigeria winger Samu Chukwueze an “extraordinary player” after his two goals inspired them to an impressive 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in their La Liga match at the weekend.
“For a few weeks now he has been giving us a lot. He is a permanent threat, not just in goals, but in passes, chances,” said Setien.
The top four qualify for the Champions League and Villarreal lie fifth, four points behind Real Sociedad with 10 matches remaining.
ENGLAND
JORDAN AYEW (Crystal Palace)
The Ghana forward scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s side won 5-1 at fellow strugglers Leeds. Ayew had scored in only one other game all season, but he netted with a 53rd-minute header to put Palace 2-1 up before adding their fifth goal with a close-range finish.
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The Egypt forward sparked Liverpool’s fightback, but also missed a penalty in a dramatic 2-2 draw against leaders Arsenal at Anfield. With Jurgen Klopp’s men trailing 2-0, Salah pounced on Jordan Henderson’s miscued shot to slot home from close range in the 42nd minute. Salah squandered a chance to equalise seven minutes into the second half when he fired a penalty wide. However, Liverpool rescued a point thanks to a Roberto Firmino header.
BERTRAND TRAORE (Aston Villa)
The Burkina Faso winger scored for the second successive game to help secure a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest that lifted Aston Villa to sixth. After striking in a midweek win at Leicester, Traore was on the scoresheet again to put the hosts in front in the 48th minute, firing home from eight yards.
SPAIN
SAMU CHUKWUEZE (Villarreal)
The Nigerian continued outstanding recent form with a brace to help fire Villarreal to a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Madrid. Chukwueze pulled his team level at 1-1 with a fantastic piece of footwork to escape Nacho Fernandez. After helping create his team’s second goal with a low pass into the box, he curled home a spectacular winner.
EZ ABDE (Osasuna)
The Morocco forward, on loan from Barcelona to Osasuna, put in a sensational display to help his team come from behind to beat Elche 2-1. Abde scored both goals in the second half. His first flew into the corner with the aid of a significant deflection, but the second was curled home from the edge of the box.
INAKI WILLIAMS (Athletic Bilbao)
The Ghana forward ended a run of 13 games without a league goal by blasting home against Espanyol in his side’s 2-1 victory.
YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)
Morocco striker En-Nesyri netted an impressive header in his team’s 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, continuing his own streak of good form, with four goals in his last six league games.
ITALY
M’BALA NZOLA (Spezia)
Angola striker Nzola scored his 13th goal of the Serie A season to give his team a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina, who had come into the match on a nine-match winning streak. Spezia are only four points above the relegation zone and if they are to stay up they will hope Nzola remains injury-free.
GERMANY
ELLYES SKHIRI (Cologne)
Tunisia defender Skhiri scored the opener in Cologne’s 3-1 romp at Augsburg. It was his sixth goal of the season, making him the club’s top league scorer.
SADIO MANE (Bayern Munich)
Handed his first start under new manager Thomas Tuchel, Mane impressed as he continued his recovery from a leg injury which saw him miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Senegalese forward has not scored for Bayern since October, but went close with two chances as his side won 1-0 at Freiburg.
AFP