Sevilla’s latest La Liga encounter with Barcelona took an unexpected turn for one of their standout players, Super Eagles star Chidera Ejuke.
The Nigerian winger, fresh off his international duties, was forced to leave the field prematurely in a match that already saw his team facing an uphill battle.
Ejuke had just returned from the international break, where he was part of the team that sealed a narrow AFCON 2025 qualifier victory over Libya, followed by a tumultuous experience in the reverse fixture.
Despite the challenges, he was back in action and started against Barcelona in matchday 10 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The game, however, did not go as planned for either Ejuke or Sevilla. The 26-year-old was substituted before the halftime whistle after appearing to pull up with a suspected hamstring injury.
His replacement, Albert Sambi Lokonga, came on as Sevilla struggled to keep pace with their formidable opponents.
Chidera Ejuke’s setback adds to Sevilla’s struggles
Before his unfortunate injury, Chidera Ejuke had been making his presence felt on the pitch.
His performance included 20 touches, two recoveries, eight successful passes, and two trademark dribbles, displaying his potential to influence the game.
However, with Sevilla already three goals behind, his efforts were not enough to turn the tide.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring early, with Pedri adding a second, before Lewandowski netted again to seal the Catalan club’s dominant first half.
Pablo Torre piled on the pain for Sevilla with a brace of late goals, sealing Barcelona's dominant 5-1 win.
Stanis Idumbo Muzambo gave Sevilla a glimmer of hope with a consolation strike, offering their fans a small reason to celebrate in an otherwise dismal evening.
Ejuke’s injury compounds Sevilla’s woes, especially after his gradual integration into the squad following a challenging start to his stint with the club.
An official update from Sevilla is expected soon, shedding more light on the severity of Ejuke’s injury and the potential length of his recovery.
