ENGLAND
Will Obi play any role in the Blues' title-decider against Manuel Pellegrini's side? We take a look at Nigerian players in action in Europe...
Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge to take on leaders Chelsea. A loss for the Citizens will see Jose Mourinho’s men pull eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
With midfield talisman Cesc Fabregas taken off injured in midweek, Super Eagles’ John Obi Mikel would be in line for a start. However, his availability is uncertain as Chelsea could do with his calm efficiency in the middle of the park in a big game such as this.
Everton go into their clash with in-form Crystal Palace without a win in six games. The Eagles are flying high with former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew at the helm, and have bolstered their ranks with the acquisition of former Magpies striker Shola Ameobi. However, the Nigeria international is unlikely to feature just yet for his new side.
West Bromwich Albion will be hopeful that Victor Anichebe can carry over his cup form into the Premier League when sixth-placed Tottenham come calling at the Hawthorns. The 26-year-old scored a brace last weekend in the FA Cup, and can reasonably expect to keep his place in the side, though he will have compatriot and club record signing Brown Ideye breathing down his neck.
With the unfortunate injury to Bojan set to rule him out for the remainder of the season, Stoke boss mark Hughes will be grateful to have winger Victor Moses fit again and available for selection. The on-loan Chelsea man will take a bead on QPR on Saturday, hoping to compound the misery of Nedum Onuoha and his teammates. The R’s are winless in five games and have yet to earn a single point away from home in 10 premier league games this term.
With Newcastle’s managerial situation pretty much cleared up till the end of the season, the Magpies will travel to relegation-threatened Hull City seeking a first win for interim boss John Carver. Sammy Ameobi could go some way to making that happen, but Newcastle must be wary of the talents of Sone Aluko in the Tigers’ attack.
ITALY
Inter face Sassuolo on Sunday in Serie A action, and Joel Obi will hope he did enough in an unfamiliar left-back role in last week’s loss to Torino to keep his place in the side. The silky midfielder has found playing time hard to come by in the middle of the park, but with Dodo seemingly out-of-favour with Inter boss Roberto Mancini, could be in line for an extended run in the team.
Lazio will head into their game against Cesena this weekend full of confidence following successive victories over AC Milan in both the league and cup within the last seven days. There has been no place for Ogenyi Onazi in the side lately, and with the midfield trio of Lucas Biglia, Marco Parolo and lately, youngster Danilo Cataldi preferred over him, the situation looks unlikely to change anytime soon.
SPAIN
The games are stadily running out for Isaac Success and his Granada teammates to stave off relegation. They play host to Elche, who are just two points better off, at Los Carmenes. If they are to snap a 16-game winless run and ignite a bid for survival, the time to start is surely now.
Barcelona will welcome in-form Villarreal to Camp Nou on Sunday, looking to keep pace with leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table. The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in ten games, and will be confident their strike partnership of Lucas Vietto and Ikechukwu Uche can cause the Blaugrana major problems.
The 31-year-old Nigeria international has not scored in three games though, since the 2-2 draw at Elche after the Christmas break, and will be keen to get on the board again.
Almeria are second from bottom, and host Getafe on Sunday. Ramon Azeez has been conspicuously absent in recent weeks, missing out on the squad altogether in last week’s 3-0 reverse at Espanyol, and perhaps he can bring some much-needed fortitude to the middle of the park for the Andalusians.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah and Koln travel to face the Bundesliga’s least potent attack as the league resumes from an extended winter break. Hamburg only scored nine goals in the first half of the season, but have the fourth-best defence in the league, so Ujah will have nothing gift-wrapped for him in this one.
FRANCE
Lille and Nantes are two of the better defensive sides in Ligue 1, and are also not very prolific, so a damp squib is in the offing. Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama will be in goal for Les Dogues at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Monaco will host the league leaders Lyon at Stade Louis II. Elderson Echiejile could get another start after impressing last weekend, and the absence of top-scorer Alexandre Lacazette will no doubt come as a huge relief to him and his fellow defenders.
NETHERLANDS
Eredivisie whipping boys Dordrecht host high-flying Heerenveen, who are undefeated in five games. Much of that form has been down to the impressive defensive displays of Kenneth Otigba, who has been a rock at the back for De Superfriezen.
Dordrecht have 23-year-old Belgo-Nigerian Funso Ojo, as well as Dutch-born defender William Troost-Ekong on loan from FC Groningen.
Bartholomew Ogbeche will turn his attentions to Twente, who host Cambuur on Saturday night. A win could see them move up into seventh-place, just behind their opponents.
Second-place Ajax will look to compound Vitesse’s misery when both sides meet on Sunday. The league-holders have not lost in 15 games, and it is unlikely that run will end over the weekend, with Vitesse having alienated second-top scorer Abiola Dauda. His last start? A 2-2 daw against Vitesse on the 7th of December.
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