Sevilla winger Chidera Ejuke suffered a hamstring injury during the club’s heavy 5-1 defeat to Barcelona at Montjuic.
Manager Xavier García Pimienta confirmed the injury while speaking after the match.
“Ejuke is injured, he has felt a twinge in his hamstring and we will see how long it lasts.”
The injured Ejuke was pulled out in the first minute of the first half stoppage time, replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The manager also reflected on a difficult night for his team, which saw them losing heavily.
“A very tough night. Conceding five goals, even from a great team, always hurts. In the first few minutes, up until the penalty, things went the way we wanted, and we also created chances. Incomprehensibly, we fell apart and with the score at 3-0 the game was over.”
Sevilla struggled to recover, and Pimienta admitted the second half was no different.
“We didn’t want to concede in the second half, to be in the game… We were more direct but the game was already decided. We didn’t defend well either after missing the fifth goal… As I say, what can’t happen is to get down after the 1-0 because the game lasts 90 minutes, a lot of things can happen and you’ll always have a chance if you’re there.”
In addition to Ejuke’s injury, Suso was also withdrawn from the game, though Pimienta clarified, “I don’t think Suso is injured, he wanted to stop so as not to force himself and we think Pedrosa is just tired.”
Pimienta also spoke about the goal scorer Idumbo, noting that “he is a first-team player and has not played more due to the performances of Dodi and Ejuke. He has to be ready when the time comes and he has been rewarded with the goal. He has to continue improving.”
Ejuke will hope to be fit before the next international break when Nigeria take on Benin Republic and Rwanda and November 11 and 19 respectively after returning to the national team from a long absence in this month’s game against Libya.
His international teammate Kelechi Iheanacho did not action in the loss to Barcelona as he was an unused substitute.
