News about Umar Sadiq

Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro said he was baffled that striker Umar Sadiq was allowed to play for Real Sociedad on Wednesday, just days after being barred out of the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury. Sadiq was sent back to his club side last week following news of a knee injury and being out for about three weeks, essentially missing the majority of the continental tournament. However, he came off the bench in the 73rd minute to play in Real Sociedad's 2-0 win over Osasuna in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, which came as a big surprise to Peseiro.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Barcelona's Champions League match on Tuesday night was the first in the team's history. Every single player in the team's line-up had been born locally or came from the club's youth system. It was the first time it had happened to them in the Champions League since the 2001-02 season. Real Sociedad lost about 350 miles northwest and 24-hours later, and eight of their starting lineup were born in the surrounding Basque region, with eight of those eight being products of the club's academy. That's the first thing you should know about the Spanish club's participation in Champions League Group D - this is a tale based on local heroes.

When LaLiga's Sevilla lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad on Sunday, Sergio Ramos was shown two red cards. Following the dismissals of Ramos and Jesus Navas late in life, the visitors were limited to nine men. Sociedad took the lead thanks to a Marko Dmitrovic own-goal and Umar Sadiq's strike before Youssef En-Nesyri pulled one back on the hour mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) last missed out on the Champions League for the second time in two decades. The vivacious Manchester United forward, who has played in Europe's top leagues for 183 years, scoring 140 goals in 19 seasons - an all-time record. Ronaldo's figure of 140 is more than double anyone in history, including four finalists Lionel Messi (125), Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema (both 86) and Raul (71). However, the Red Devils' highly disappointing campaign in 2021-22 is now back in the Europa League with a match against Real Sociedad on Thursday. If Ronaldo, who has been suspended for the last four United States games, plays in the tournament for the third time in Europe's second-tier competition, and the first in 20 years (left). But when were the last two and what happened in those games? Sportsmail goes down memory lane to remember the memorable moment... click here.

BY PETE JENSON: BY PETE JENSON (inset left) was the leading pupil of Xabi Alonso's youth squad at Real Sociedad until the age of 18, but Martin Zubimendi (left) and his Manchester United team's Old Trafford team were able to play in the old master's role against Erik ten Hag (inset right) and his Manchester United team on Thursday night. He is as articulate on the art of being a holding midfielder as he is playing, and he has the same knack for not being sent off as tonight's opponent Casemiro (second right), who claims to be the 'right' player for Real Madrid. And Zubimendi is optimistic about Real Sociedad's future, even after they sold Alexander Isak to Newcastle for £63 million, a player he believes would eventually be worth the money. Zubimendi, the under-21 national team's captain, has been expected to take over from Sergio Busquets in the Spain team one day, but the team's image has remained far away from direct comparisons.

Over the weekend, the fourth round of LaLiga fixtures took place, with emphatic victories for Barcelona, Villareal, and Valencia among others. Real Madrid defeated Real Betis 2-1 on Saturday, while Osasuna defeated Rayo Vallecano by the same scoreline the following day. Real Madrid leads the table with a stunning 12 points from 12 so far, putting them two points ahead of Barcelona and Villareal in the league trophy race at this early stage. PETE JENSON has ten things we've learned this week.

After Diego Simeone said he was ordered to limit his game time, Antoine Griezmann made his second substitute appearance in Atletico Madrid's draw at Real Sociedad on Saturday night. In the LaLIga match, the French striker was a 63rd-minute replacement for Rodrigo de Paul, his fourth time he had been called off the bench in four matches this season. It came after Simeone pleaded with the Atletico hierarchy that he had been told not to begin on-loan Griezmann so as not to trigger a clause that requires them to pay Barcelona £35 million.

Atletico Madrid's LaLiga title defense suffered another blow when they let a slim lead fall against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. In the 5th minute, Alvaro Morata gave Atletico a lead over Sociedad as he tapped home after a near miss corner from Yannick Carrasco that was not claimed by Alex Remiro. In the 55th minute, Umar Sadiq equalized Sociede as he nodded in from close range, but it was still on. In the 77th minute, the Nigerian believed he had given his team the lead, but his chip was dismissed due to a lack of funds.

PETE JENSON (SPAIN): Diego Simeone has confirmed that he will not start Antoine Griezmann because if the club doesn't play enough minutes this season, Barcelona will be forced to pay Barcelona €40 million (£35 million). Griezmann has two goals already, but at minute 64, minute 62, and minute 75 in Atletico's three matches, he is yet to begin. Asked why the player has only been on this season as a late sub, Simeone replied, "I am a man of the club and will always be."

Real Madrid won by 3-1 over Espanyol, bringing their undefeated season to a conclusion, while Real Betis continued their undefeated start to the season by defeating Osasuna. Barcelona defeated Valladolid 4-0, with Robert Lewandowski netting twice, but Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, and Almeria were among Celta Vigo's other accolades. Pete Jenson, Sportmail's man from Spain, rounds up what we learned from the most recent set of Spanish fixtures.