Europa League: Ndidi returns, Chukwueze scores as Milan, Spurs, Villarreal progress

SUPER Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi returned from a lengthy adductor injury layoff on Thursday night in Leicester City’s 1-0 defeat to Zorya in Ukraine.

The 23-year-old was making his first appearance since playing the full 90 minutes in the Premier League win over Burnley on 20 September and he lasted 56 minutes before being replaced by Nampalys Mendy.

The defensive midfielder had missed 13 Leicester City fixtures and Nigeria’s friendly matches against Algeria and Tunisia as well as the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone due to the injury.

Ndidi’s compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho played the whole game on Thursday night but could not rescue a point for Leicester City who are already through to the round of 32.

Several other clubs also confirmed their spots in the next round on Thursday, including SC Braga, AC Milan, Lille, Villarreal, Antwerp, Tottenham Hotspur, Dinamo Zagreb and Crvena zvezda.

Serie A leaders Milan came back from 2-0 down at home to beat struggling Scottish champions Celtic, while Spurs led twice but were held to a 3-3 draw by LASK in Austria.

Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze was Villarreal’s hero, scoring their only goal in the 75th minute in a 1-0 win at Sivasspor before making way for Gerard Moreno a minute later.

Royal Antwerp sealed their spot in the knockout rounds with a 3-1 over Ludogorets, while Braga won 4-2 at AEK Athens.

Victor Osimhen’s former club Lille defeated Sparta Prague 2-1 to join AC Milan in advancing from their group.