Victor Osimhen, the prolific striker for the Super Eagles, made a notable return to Galatasaray‘s starting eleven after a month-long absence, just in time for their UEFA Champions League showdown against Liverpool, according to Soccernet.ng.
The 26-year-old forward had not started a match since September 6, when he featured for only 35 minutes in Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda before being sidelined by an ankle injury.
Recently crowned the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, Osimhen made a brief comeback in Galatasaray’s 1-0 triumph over Alanyaspor, appearing for just five minutes. Despite lingering discomfort, he delivered a strong 72-minute performance in tonight’s crucial Champions League fixture, helping Okan Buruk‘s squad secure their inaugural win of the 2025/2026 group stage.
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Galatasaray began the match aggressively, with Osimhen immediately testing Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker with a sharp early shot. Moments later, he nearly scored from an audacious attempt to lob the ball from over 40 yards, but the Brazilian keeper was alert to the danger.
The breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboslai was penalized for an arm foul against Galatasaray’s Baris Yilmaz, resulting in a penalty kick. Osimhen confidently stepped up and slotted the ball centrally, deceiving Alisson and putting Galatasaray ahead at RAMS Park.
In the second half, Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot responded by introducing attacking reinforcements including Mohammed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Conor Bradley. Earlier, goalkeeper Alisson Becker had been replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili due to injury. Despite these tactical changes, Liverpool struggled to find rhythm in the final third, while Galatasaray’s defense remained resolute.
During a ball retention effort, Osimhen aggravated his ankle injury and signaled to coach Okan Buruk for a substitution, making way for Mauro Icardi. Nigeria’s national team coach, Eric Chelle, will be hoping this precautionary change does not sideline their top scorer as the Super Eagles gear up for the decisive phase of FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry commented that Galatasaray might have extended their lead had Osimhen been less eager, highlighting how fine margins influenced the match’s outcome. After enjoying a seven-game unbeaten streak, Liverpool have now suffered back-to-back defeats and will need to regroup quickly.