Victor Osimhen delivered another memorable performance on a European night even though Galatasaray S.K. suffered a 3-2 defeat to Juventus F.C. in a dramatic UEFA Champions League play-off match.
The Super Eagles striker showed resilience throughout the game. His late goal in extra time helped reduce the deficit, even as Juventus controlled much of the match.
Historic Night for Osimhen’s European Legacy
Osimhen spoke honestly after the game, giving credit to the opponents while praising his teammates’ effort.
“This match was disappointing from the start. Congratulations to Juventus; they really pushed us hard,” Osimhen was quoted as saying on the club’s official website.
He added:
“We knew this was a tough pitch. Even with 10 men, they pushed hard and scored two goals. I’m happy with my goal and what I did.”
Osimhen’s goal was more than just a consolation strike. The finish in the 106th minute came after a strong assist from Barış Alper Yılmaz.
The goal helped Osimhen reach 13 European competition goals for Galatasaray, making him the club’s highest-scoring foreign player in European competitions.
He moved past club legends, including players who had previously set the standard for European success.
His growing influence in European competitions continues to strengthen his reputation as one of Galatasaray’s most important attacking players.
“We know we have a lot to work on. Juventus deserved to win, but we deserved to advance to the next round,” Osimhen said.
The atmosphere from Galatasaray supporters remained strong even when the team trailed. Osimhen was quick to highlight the importance of the fans during difficult moments.
“Even in the most difficult moments, the fans were with us. Galatasaray fans deserve this happiness to the fullest,” he said.
“Even when we were behind, they never stopped supporting us. We can say that we advanced to the next round thanks to them. We will continue to work. We need their support very much. We have a long way to go, but we are sure that they will be with us every step of the way.”
Juventus Fight Back but Fall Short
Despite losing the match 3-2 after extra time, Galatasaray advanced to the Champions League round of 16 thanks to their strong first-leg advantage and overall aggregate lead of 7-5.
Juventus showed strong attacking intent early. Goals came from Manuel Locatelli’s first-half penalty, followed by Federico Gatti’s close-range finish in the second half.
Weston McKennie later added a third goal with a powerful header from a set-piece delivery. However, Galatasaray’s late pressure changed the tempo of the game.
Osimhen’s strike in extra time gave the Turkish side momentum before Yılmaz scored again in the 119th minute to complete the scoring at 3-2.
Even in defeat, the striker remains optimistic about the team’s future progress in continental competition.