Umar Sadiq made his first goal contribution of the season by providing an assist in Real Sociedad's 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht during their UEFA Europa League match on Thursday night.
Real Sociedad entered the contest at the Reale Arena with the confidence of a recent 3-0 La Liga victory over Valencia, but they ultimately fell short of their aspirations for a first Europa League win.
The Spanish side took an early lead thanks to a well-crafted play involving the Nigerian forward, marking Sadiq’s first assist in this season’s European campaign.
Sadiq delivered a precise cross from the right wing, which Pablo Marín volleyed home to score his debut goal for Real Sociedad, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
However, the lead was short-lived. Anderlecht responded swiftly, with Luis Vazquez equalising in the 24th minute and then, just before halftime, Theo Leoni found the back of the net with a powerful strike, securing a 2-1 lead and, eventually, victory for the visitors.
Sadiq's mixed performance despite early contribution
For Umar Sadiq, the season has been challenging, and despite a promising first half, he was replaced by Takefusa Kubo early in the second period.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles forward had an impactful first half, registering 23 touches, completing five accurate passes, and creating two scoring chances.
He also took two shots on goal and contributed defensively with one recovery, five clearances, including four headed clearances, and won both a ground and aerial duel.
Real Sociedad’s recent form remains a concern, with only one win in their last six matches across all competitions, alongside three losses and two draws. They now prepare for a tough La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.