Nigeria's Super Eagles poster boy, Victor Osimhen, continues to impress in Turkey, exceeding expectations with his performances for Galatasaray S.K.
The Lagos-born forward has already racked up six goals and three assists this season, surpassing his expected goals (xG: 5.89) and expected assists (xA: 1.10).
Though Osimhen did not score in Galatasaray’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Eyüpspor on Sunday, he played the role of a provider.
Osimhen and Galatasaray struggle against Eyüpspor
The match began with Galatasaray falling behind early, as Emre Akbaba capitalized on a defensive lapse to put Eyüpspor ahead in the 13th minute.
Osimhen nearly equalized in the 20th minute when he struck the post after latching onto Lucas Torreira’s assist. His relentless pressing and movement created problems for the Eyüpspor backline, but he was unable to convert several key chances, including a close-range header and a volley that soared over the crossbar.
Osimhen’s persistence, however, paid off in the 47th minute when he delivered a precise assist for Roland Sallai, whose composed finish gave Galatasaray a 2-1 lead. Despite Osimhen’s tireless efforts, Eyüpspor clawed their way back through Prince Ampem’s equalizer in the 71st minute, leaving both sides to share the spoils.
Osimhen's impact: A closer look
Osimhen’s performance was a mixed bag. While he registered an assist and created two big chances, his finishing left much to be desired. The Nigerian attempted six shots, but only one was on target.
Notably, he missed three big chances and hit the woodwork once, demonstrating his attacking threat but also highlighting areas for improvement.
In possession, Osimhen was effective, completing 7 of his 9 passes (78% accuracy) and making four key passes. His physicality was evident in duels, winning 3 of his 7 ground duels and 1 of his 3 aerial challenges.
Despite losing possession six times, he maintained his intensity, drawing two fouls and committing two himself.
