Chukwueze nets first LaLiga brace in Villarreal win

SAMUEL Chukwueze scored twice on Sunday night in Villarreal’s 5-1 win at Levante.

It was the Super Eagles forward’s first ever brace in LaLiga in his 88th game in the Spanish top flight since his debut in the 2017/2018 season.

Chukwueze netted Villarreal’s third and fifth goals in the big win to keep his side fifth and in a good position to return to the UEFA Europa League next season.

Sergio Postigo’s own goal and a Gerard Moreno strike gave Villarreal a 2-0 lead just 13 minutes into the game.

 However, Michael Malsa pulled one back for Levante in the 21st minute and it remained 2-1 into half-time.

Chukwueze made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute, while another own goal by Ruben Vezo increased Villarreal’s lead.

The Nigerian put the final nail in Levante’s coffin in the 75th minute of the comfortable victory.

The 21-year-old wide forward has now scored five goals in 25 LaLiga matches this season.

While Villarreal are essentially out of the running for a top four finish and a UEFA Champions League spot (they are on 49 points, 15 behind fourth-placed Sevilla), they are leading in the battle for Europa League places.

They still have a shot at getting through to the Champions League if they win this season’s Europa League, in which they are in the semi-finals where they face Arsenal next.