Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface, will aim to replicate his outstanding performance from last season’s Europa League campaign with Bayer Leverkusen. The German club begins their group-stage campaign with a home fixture against Swedish champions Hacken at the Bay Arena.
Boniface was the joint-top scorer in the Europa League last season, sharing the honor with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, having scored six goals in 10 games. This impressive performance was part of his overall tally of 22 goals and 12 assists in 55 competitive appearances for Union Saint Gilliose.
Despite being just 22 years old, Boniface has already made a significant impact since joining Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian side Royal Union Saint Gilliose in the summer. He has netted five goals and provided two assists across all competitions this season.
In the upcoming match, Boniface will be eager to showcase his scoring prowess in Europe after experiencing a goal drought in recent domestic games, failing to score against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich.
At the Ibrox stadium, Cyriel Dessers is expected to lead the Glasgow Rangers attack in the absence of injured Danilo when the Gers face Real Betis.
Dessers has contributed two goals and three assists in nine games for Rangers since his arrival this summer and will aim to break his duck in the competition in front Gers of the fans as well as end his five-game goal drought in all competition. The 28-year-old has played three times in the competition without a goal.
Chuba Akpom is set to make his fourth appearance in the competition as Ajax hosts Olympique Marseille at the Johan Cruijff Arena. The 27-year-old has featured in only two substitute roles since joining the Dutch club from Middlesbrough in the summer.
Ajax started their Europa League campaign by winning their opening qualifying tie, defeating Ludogorets 4-2 on aggregate in the play-offs. However, they have faced difficulties in their recent matches, going winless in their last three games across all competitions, with one draw and two losses.
Meanwhile, at the Gewiss Stadium in Italy, Ademola Lookman is on track to make his eighth appearance in the competition as Atalanta faces Rakow Czestochowa, who will be putting their unbeaten streak on the line.
For Atalanta, this is their first match of the European season and their first appearance in European competition since being eliminated in the 2021/2022 Europa League quarter-finals by RB Leipzig.
Lookman, the 25-year-old forward who scored for Atalanta in their recent 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina, will aim to continue his good form by adding to his tally in the competition with his third goal.
