It was a dream debut for Nigerian midfielder Chrisantus Uche, who was on the score sheet as Getafe held Athletic Club to a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Thursday.
Getafe opened the 2024/25 La Liga season with a tricky away test against Ernesto Valverde’s side at San Memes but managed to avoid defeat after coming from behind to snatch a draw.
The Azulones were second-best for much of the game and had to ride their luck sometimes in the first half as Athletic Bilbao enjoyed the larger share of possession.
The hosts finally made their dominance count in the 27th minute when Oihan Sancet opened the scoring with a great effort from the outside of the box.
Conceding the first goal, however, did not rattle Getafe, as they kept their shape and looked to play on the counter-attack.
Versatile Chrisantus Uche scores on La Liga debut
While they struggled to create clear-cut chances, the visitors restored parity after the half-time break, Chrisantus Uche rising highest to head home a teasing cross.
Uche’s goal, his first in the Spanish top flight and on his official debut, came against the run of play but was enough to earn Getafe a hard-fought point on the road.
The 21-year-old only joined the Madrid-based club in June after spending the last two years in the Spanish fourth and third tiers playing for Moralo CP and AD Ceuta, respectively.
However, Uche’s impressive displays in pre-season forced manager Jose Bordalas to name him in his starting line-up for Getafe’s opening game of the season.
The young midfielder was surprisingly deployed as a striker by Bordalas, and he repaid his manager’s faith by scoring the goal that earned them a point. It remains to be seen, though, whether the Getafe boss would continue playing Uche upfront or station him back in his favoured midfield role as the season progresses.
