FIVE SUPER EAGLES STARS FACE TOUGH WEEKEND TESTS IN ENGLAND, SPAIN AND ITALY

Five Nigerian players are set for challenging weekend fixtures across England, Spain and Italy, with league leaders and title contenders standing in their way.

Semi Ajayi (Hull City vs Arsenal)

Ajayi and Hull City visit Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm Nigerian time.

Hull are 11th and have gone eight matches without a win in all competitions, while Ajayi played the full 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town last weekend.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have collected 24 points from nine matches and boast a perfect home record this season, making the encounter a difficult assignment for the Tigers.

Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City)

Aina and Nottingham Forest host Manchester City at the City Ground on Saturday at 5:30pm Nigerian time, with Forest desperate to escape the relegation zone.

Forest sit 19th with six points from nine matches and have scored just six goals, while Aina could lose his starting place after being substituted at half-time against Brentford.

Manchester City have lost their last two league matches but head into the fixture after a 3-2 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

Umar Sadiq (Valencia vs Real Madrid)

Sadiq and Valencia welcome Real Madrid to Mestalla on Saturday night, with the hosts struggling in 19th place after collecting nine points from 11 matches.

The Nigerian striker recently returned from a two-month injury layoff and scored the winning goal in Valencia’s 1-0 victory over Elche, his second league goal of the season.

However, Real Madrid arrive in impressive form, having won their last seven matches in all competitions, and sit third, just three points behind leaders Barcelona.

Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona)

Lookman and Atletico Madrid face league leaders Barcelona at the Metropolitano on Sunday night in a crucial clash between the top two sides in La Liga.

Atletico are second with 28 points, two behind Barcelona, and have won their last seven league matches, although Lookman has managed just one league goal this season.

Reports in Spain suggest coach Diego Simeone is considering a 4-3-3 formation that could see Lookman deployed on the left wing.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Napoli vs Lazio)

Dele-Bashiru and league leaders Lazio travel to face Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm Nigerian time.

Lazio have 28 points and arrive on the back of six consecutive victories, while Dele-Bashiru featured as a substitute in their 2-1 win over Cagliari last weekend.

Napoli are eighth and have lost their last two matches, including a heavy 4-1 defeat to Porto, giving Lazio an opportunity to strengthen their position at the top.