With a clash against Barcelona on the horizon, Super Eagles star Raphael Onyedika remains confident in his team’s ability to cause an upset
Raphael Onyedika is gearing up for a massive midweek showdown as Club Brugge prepare to face European giants Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
Fresh off his return from injury, the Super Eagles midfielder says he knows the challenge ahead, but insists he and his teammates are ready to face it head-on.
Onyedika returns with confidence as Barcelona test looms
After spending five weeks on the sidelines, Onyedika marked his comeback on Saturday in Brugge’s 2-1 win over Dender in the Belgian Pro League.
Though introduced in the 63rd minute, the Nigerian midfielder made every second count, recording 35 successful passes, one tackle and one interception in just 27 minutes. His brief cameo was enough to fuel belief heading into Wednesday’s blockbuster clash.
Speaking after the match, Onyedika admitted he still needs minutes to fully regain sharpness, but the outing boosted his confidence. “That short half-hour has given me confidence that I’ll be ready for the match against Barcelona,” he said.
The Spanish giants may be without Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, yet Brugge remain underdogs, a role they are embracing with quiet determination.
‘We know what’s coming’ — Onyedika confident ahead of Barcelona tie
Barcelona’s pedigree speaks for itself, and history has not been kind to Brugge, who have lost three of their last four meetings with the Catalan side.
But Onyedika insists there’s no fear, only excitement and readiness. “We know what’s coming, but we can’t be afraid,” he declared.
Club Brugge’s supporters will expect a spirited performance against a Barca team still stacked with quality despite notable absences.
Onyedika is poised to start, although he may not complete the full 90 due to his recent return from injury. Still, his energy, ball-recovery instincts and composure could be decisive as Brugge look to avoid another defeat and potentially script one of the upsets of the round.
