Super Eagles midfielder Christantus Uche scored one goal and set up another as Getafe began their La Liga season with a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who now wears the number 10 shirt, played a key role in both goals at the Estadio de Balaídos.
After a tight first half, Uche broke into the box two minutes after the restart and squared the ball to Adrian Liso, who finished neatly to put Getafe ahead.
Celta pushed for an equaliser, but Uche punished them on the counter-attack. He controlled a long pass from Ismael Bekhoucha, skipped past two defenders, rounded the goalkeeper, and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net.
The Nigerian midfielder almost grabbed a second late in the game, but his effort was blocked by a Celta defender. Despite late pressure from the hosts, Getafe held on for a deserved win.
Uche, capped twice by Nigeria, was named La Liga’s Man of the Match. His performance once again highlighted why several top European clubs continue to monitor him, even though a summer transfer did not materialise.
Uche made his La Liga debut on 15 August 2024, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao. He went on to make 33 appearances in his debut season, contributing four goals and six assists.
His fine form also earned him a first senior call-up to the Super Eagles earlier this year, where he scored the decisive penalty against Jamaica in May to help Nigeria lift the Unity Cup.