Galatasaray v Liverpool: Osimhen chasing 13-year Champions League record in Istanbul

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen is just one goal away from equalling a long-standing Champions League record for Galatasaray as the Turkish giants prepare to face Liverpool on Tuesday night, Afrik-Foot reports.

Osimhen has scored seven goals in this season’s UEFA Champions League, putting him one goal short of the record for the most goals scored by a Galatasaray player in a single Champions League campaign.

That record has stood for more than a decade and is currently held by Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz, who scored eight goals in nine matches during the 2012-13 season.

If Osimhen scores against Liverpool at Rams Park, he will match that mark and move another step closer to writing his name into Galatasaray’s European history.

The Nigerian forward has already proven his importance to the Turkish champions during their Champions League journey this season. Alongside his seven goals, he has also provided two assists, making him one of the most influential players in the competition.

Victor Osimhen'in Tottenham ve Liverpool'a attığı goller pic.twitter.com/aRjQGvNY3N

— Winner Galatasaray (@winner_gsaray_) February 27, 2026

His scoring form has also placed him among the leading scorers in the tournament. Osimhen currently sits fourth on the Champions League scoring chart, level with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Earlier in the season, the 27-year-old already set another milestone for the Istanbul club. In February, during Galatasaray’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Juventus, Osimhen scored the team’s opening goal and became Galatasaray’s highest-scoring foreign player in European competitions.

That strike was his 13th goal in European tournaments for the club, breaking the previous record of 12 goals held by former Czech striker Milan Baros.

Now, the Nigerian star has another historic target within reach as Galatasaray prepare for one of their biggest matches of the season.

Galatasaray prepare for tough Liverpool test in Champions League

Galatasaray will host English side Liverpool on Tuesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie.

The match will be played at Rams Park in Istanbul, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45, and Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano will take charge.

Galatasaray come into the match with confidence after already beating Liverpool 1-0 earlier in the competition. In that meeting, Osimhen scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.

Coach Okan Buruk will also be pleased because he has a fully fit squad available for the match. No players are injured or suspended, giving the Turkish champions strong options in every position.

However, there is one concern hanging over the team. Seven Galatasaray players are just one yellow card away from suspension, which means they could miss the return leg in England.

The players at risk include goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, winger Roland Sallai, forward Noa Lang, and striker Victor Osimhen.

If Osimhen receives a yellow card in this match, he will be suspended for the second leg at Anfield next week.In the Champions League, players are automatically suspended after three yellow cards that do not lead to a red card. After that, every odd-numbered caution (the fifth, seventh and ninth cards) also triggers another one-match ban.

Osimhen has already received yellow cards in matches against Juventus and Atletico Madrid, meaning he is just one booking away from suspension.

The Nigerian has played at Anfield before. In 2022, while playing for Napoli, he suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League. In that same campaign, Napoli also beat Liverpool 4-1, with Osimhen winning, and later missing, a penalty.

Galatasaray reached the round of 16 after a dramatic route through the competition. They finished 20th in the league phase, before beating Juventus 5-2 at home in the play-off round. Although they lost the second leg 3-2 after extra time, the Turkish side still advanced on aggregate.

Liverpool, meanwhile, had a much smoother journey. The English club won six of their eight matches in the league phase and finished third in the standings, which allowed them to qualify directly for the round of 16.The second leg of the tie will take place at Anfield on March 18.