Club Brugge legend faults Raphael Onyedika suspension in Atletico loss

Former Club Brugge and Belgium striker Marc Degryse has revealed that Raphael Onyedika’s absence played a key role in his side’s 1-4 loss to Atletico Madrid last night, Afrik Foot reports.

The 24-year-old midfielder was brilliant in the first leg at the Jan Breydelstadion, scoring a goal and providing an assist in the 3-3 spectacle, but a yellow card incurred in that game ruled the Super Eagles star out of the away leg.

At the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid ran riot. A hat-trick from Alexander Sørloth, and another goal from American midfielder Johnny Cardoso meant Joel Ordonez’s strike was only a consolation for Club Brugge.

Marc Degryse bemoans Onyedika’s suspension

Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko brought in Norwegian midfielder Hugo Vetlesen in Onyedika’s absence, but the 25-year-old struggled and was taken out after 65 minutes.

Degryse was cautious in his approach to the coach’s tactical switch, claiming the decision wasn’t a wrong one, but that it wasn’t like-for-like, in relation to Onyedika’s abilities.

“Ivan Leko’s choice for Vetlesen was certainly not wrong. He often stood in the right place and volunteered. Handsome. Only you felt that he lacked rhythm and feeling,” the 60-year-old said in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.

“Perhaps that yellow card by Raphael Onyedika was still the most important, and most unfortunate, moment of this double confrontation against Atlético in the first match.

“If you play the return against Atlético with Onyedika, Stankovic will be in the rooms where Vetlesen now showed up.

“If Stankovic had had those opportunities, he would have scored at least once or twice,” Degryse concluded.

Club Brugge’s loss at the Wanda Metropolitano now means their only competing for the Belgium Pro League. They’re currently third, three points behind league leaders Union St. Gilloise.