Iheanacho extends search for his first goal in 2024 after a no-show Vs Barcelona, Ejuke subbed off

Kelechi Iheanacho’s search for his first goal in the 2024 calendar year has been extended by another week after the 28-year-old was left on the bench when his club, Sevilla were pummeled 5-1 by their host, Barcelona at Estadio Olimpico Lluis Companys on Sunday night.

The Nigerian has been an unused substitute in Sevilla’s last two LaLiga games and the former Leicester City man who signed as a free agent for Sevilla will be hoping he gets the chance not set an unwanted record when he returns with his club to Barcelona on Friday, precisely the RCDE Stadium where they will face Espanyol in a match week 11 game in the LaLiga.

Iheanacho has not scored any goal in the 2024 calendar year and last found the back of the net in October last year in Leicester City’s 3-1 defeat of their host, Swansea City in a Skybet Championship game.

His only goal involvement so far this year was the assist he provided for Issahaku Fatawu in the 105th minute to score the only goal in the defeat of Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium in a fifth round FA Cup game in February this year.

Overall, Iheanacho has not scored in the 24 games he has featured in this year viz in the two international friendlies for Nigeria as well as two Africa Cup of Nations games and two World Cup qualifying games.

At club level, he did not score in the 11 Sky Bet Championship games he featured in this year as well as one FA Cup, one EFL Cup and now five LaLiga games.

Meanwhile, Iheanacho’s compatriot at Sevilla, Chidera Ejuke was in action for the first 45 minutes of the game against Barcelona for his sixth start in nine appearances for Sevilla in his first season in the LaLiga.

At the Estadio de la Ceramica, surprise package, Chrisantus Uche made his 10th start in the 10 games his club, Getafe have so far played in the LaLiga this season and the 21-year-old has scored once in his debut game and debut season in the competition.

Umar Sadiq’s real Sociedad went to the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, saw and conquered their host, Girona 1-0 without their 27-year-old Nigerian forward.

Sadiq has not featured for the club in their last three LaLiga games and has started just two of the five appearances he has made so far this season.