Samuel Chukwueze is in a race against time to be fit for Wednesday’s big UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich
Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze has been ruled out of Saturday’s La Liga fixture with Levante due to a muscle injury.
The 22-year-old forward picked up the muscle injury while playing for the Super Eagles in the first leg of their World Cup Qualifiers against the Black Stars of Ghana.
Chukwueze started the first leg for Nigeria in Kumasi but went off injured in the 59th minute and was replaced by Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis. Chukwueze played no part in the second leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
Unai Emery confirms muscle injury for Samuel Chukwueze
Villarreal manager Unai Emery confirmed Chukwueze’s absence on Friday in his pre-match press conference before the Yellow Submarines take on bottom-placed Levante.
Speaking at the press conference, Emery confirmed that Chukwueze still has some pains after he came back to the Villarreal camp with the injury.
The Spanish manager said: “Chukwueze has some little pains in the back of the muscle.
“He will not be available due to a small muscle injury.”
Chukwueze could miss Bayern Munich vs Villarreal
The injury also places Chukwueze in major doubt for Villarreal’s first-leg quarter-final fixture against Bayern Munich.
The Yellow Submarines face the German champions in the last eight after seeing off Italian giants Juventus in a shock 4-1 aggregate Round-of-16 victory.
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Chukwueze played 114 minutes across both legs against Bayern Munich helping the Spanish side achieve one of the upsets of the previous round in a shock 3-0 second leg away from victory over Juventus at the Allianz Arena.
The Villarreal forward then teamed up with Ivory Coast’s Serge Aurier as he showed off some nice dance moves while dancing to Yemi Alade’s ‘Do as I do’ song in the Villarreal dressing room after the second leg.
The Super Eagles forward have scored five (5) goals and created (2) assists in 29 appearances for Villarreal this season in all competitions.
