Tag: Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen, striker for Galatasaray, set a new record in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after his side secured a 1–0 victory over Liverpool F.C..

Osimhen was impressive as Galatasaray defeated Liverpool in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie in Turkey.

His teammate Mario Lemina scored the only goal of the encounter in the first half to give the Turkish Super Lig champions a first-leg advantage ahead of the return leg next week.

However, according to OptaJoe, Osimhen has been involved in eight goals in the Champions League this season (7 goals and 1 assist), the most ever by a Nigerian player in a single Champions League campaign.

The former Napoli attacker is ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman (6), Tijani Babangida (6), Yakubu Ayegbeni (6) and John Utaka (6).

Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, on Sunday became the club’s fourth-highest scoring foreign player of all time.

Osimhen achieved this feat after scoring a goal in Galatasaray’s  3-0 win against Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Recall that Barış Alper Yılmaz opened the scoring for Galatasaray in the 19th minute,  before Yunus Akgün doubled the lead for the visitors.

Osimhen then extended Galatasaray’s lead in the 73rd minute as they claimed all three points against the hosts.

His goal for Galatasaray took him to 52 strikes already for the club, surpassing Bafetimbi Gomis’ 51 goals to become the club’s all-time fourth highest scoring foreign player.

The top three players on the list ahead of Osimhen are Mauro Icardi (73), Gheorghe Hagi (72), and Milan Baros (61).

Galatasaray’s all-time highest scoring foreign player:

73 goals – Mauro Icardi
72 goals – Gheorghe Hagi
61 goals – Milan Baros
52 goals – Victor Osimhen
51 goals – Bafétimbi Gomis

Victor Osimhen continued his fine scoring run as Galatasaray record a 3-0 away win over Rizespor in Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig encounter.

The Nigeria international sealed the victory in the second half to register his 15th goal of the season in all competitions, as the defending champions strengthened their grip on top spot in the league.

Galatasaray made a bright start and were rewarded in the 19th minute when Barış Alper Yılmaz opened the scoring.

The winger rose above his marker to head home a well-weighted cross from Noa Lang, giving the visitors early control of the contest.

Rizespor struggled to cope with Galatasaray’s pressure, and the pressure eventually told again after the break.

Yılmaz turns provider, Osimhen finishes the job

Yılmaz turned provider in the 62nd minute, sending in a precise delivery that Yunus Akgün converted from close range to double the lead.

Title push gathers momentum

The win keeps Galatasaray top of the Super Lig standings with 52 points from 21 matches. They sit six points clear of second-placed Fenerbahçe, who have a game in hand, and seven ahead of Trabzonspor in third.

Osimhen’s goal tally now stands at nine in the league this season, underlining his importance in Galatasaray’s push for a fourth consecutive Super Lig title.

The Super Eagles forward will look to add to that total when Galatasaray host Eyüpspor in their next league fixture on Friday.

Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, has shared why he is thankful to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.

Expressing gratitude to Drogba, Osimhen stating that he credits some of his successes to the Ivorian for helping shape who he is today.

“I have to be grateful for [Didier Drogba] because for all I am now, I think I attribute some of my successes to him,” Osimhen said of the former Ivory Coast striker as quoted by UEFA’s website after Galatasaray’s 3-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“He was the one that I actually picked to see the way he plays, to try to add some of his qualities that he does that make him one of the most sought-after strikers in world football during his playing time.”

Osimhen, 26, will hope to lead Galatasaray to victory this weekend against Kocaelispor in their Turkish Super Lig match.

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has disclosed that Victor Osimhen is still struggling with pain from an injury picked up during international duty with Nigeria but is expected to make a return to action soon.

The 26-year-old striker picked up the knock last week while representing the Super Eagles and immediately returned to Turkey for treatment. Galatasaray confirmed his situation in a statement on their official website.

Osimhen was unavailable for the Yellow and Reds’ 2-0 victory over Eyupspor on Saturday, but Buruk remains optimistic about his recovery ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League opener.

“Osimhen’s condition will be determined within a few days. We’re hopeful he’ll play. We think he will, but of course, he’s in pain,” Buruk told the club’s official media.

Galatasaray face Eintracht Frankfurt away on Thursday in their first Champions League group stage match of the season, and Buruk will be eager to have his star forward available.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray from Napoli this summer in a high-profile transfer, is seen as central to the Turkish champions’ European ambitions. He arrived after a successful spell in Serie A, where he fired Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years in 2023 and won the African Footballer of the Year award.

His fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days, with Nigerian fans also anxious about his availability ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers.