By Korede James
Super Eagles stars Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were in action for Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday as the German Bundesliga champions edged out Heidenheim 1-0 to stay in the title race with Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile in Spain, Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq was in the Valencia starting line-up as they shocked Real Madrid 2-1 in Madrid.
Boniface and Tella were in the starting line-up for Leverkusen and both were taken off in the 68th minute as substitute Emiliano Buendia struck the winner in stoppage time.
It was Boniface’s 17th league appearance this season with eight goals and one assist, while Tella appeared in his 21st league match and has scored two goals with two assists.
Second-placed Leverkusen, with the victory, took their points tally to 62, six behind leaders Bayern.
In another Bundesliga fixture on Saturday, Hoffenheim lost 3-1 away to RB Leipzig.
Nigerian stars Kevin Akpoguma and Gift Orban played in the encounter for Hoffenheim.
While defender Akpoguma was introduced in the 46th minute, forward Orban came on in the 76th minute.
Orban has not scored in five straight games now after netting four goals in 11 league appearances, while Akpoguma was making his 26th league appearance this season.
Hoffenheim are 14th in the table, five points away from the relegation play-off spot.
In Spain, Sadiq played for 59 minutes as Valencia produced a huge upset at the Santiago Bernabeu and harmed Real Madrid’s title prospects.
Substitute Hugo Duro netted the winner five minutes into added time, set up by Sadiq’s replacement Rafa Mir.
Real Madrid are second in LaLiga, three points behind leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand, while Valencia are 15th, seven points clear of the relegation places.
