Super Eagles star Umar Sadiq finally made his mark this season, registering his first goal involvement with a stellar assist, though it wasn’t enough to prevent Real Sociedad from suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Anderlecht in Thursday night’s Europa League encounter.
Coming off a dominant 3-0 win over Valencia in La Liga, Real Sociedad hoped to carry their momentum into the European stage but fell short in their quest for a first Europa League win, Footballrover reports.
Nevertheless, Sadiq wasted no time making his presence felt early on in the game.
Sadiq’s early impact offers hope
Real Sociedad fans were treated to a moment of brilliance just minutes into the match when Sadiq set up Pablo Marín for his maiden goal for the club.
The Nigerian forward whipped in a precise cross from the right flank, and Marín executed a stunning one-time volley to put Sociedad in the driver’s seat.
This assist marked Real Sociedad’s quickest in Europa League history, setting the tone for what many hoped would be a decisive lead.
However, Anderlecht were not easy pushovers. The Belgian side quickly equalised through Luis Vazquez in the 24th minute and added a second just before halftime, courtesy of Theo Leoni’s effort.
A frustrating campaign so far for Sadiq
Despite the assist, Sadiq’s performance reflected the difficulties he’s faced this season.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles striker showed flashes of his brilliance in the first half, completing five accurate passes, delivering two shots, and crafting two key chances.
On the defensive side, Sadiq was also active, making one recovery, five clearances, and winning both ground and aerial duels.
However, his struggles were evident, as he was replaced by Kubo Takefusa immediately after halftime, adding to his frustration in a season that has seen him struggle to find consistency.
This defeat means Real Sociedad have now only managed one win in their last six matches, with three losses and two draws.
Looking ahead, Sadiq and his teammates will face a tough test against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, where they’ll continue to search for answers to reverse their fortunes.
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