Osimhen vs Alexsandro: Why Lille star has promised war on Super Eagles striker

Victor Osimhen could be set for another titanic battle when his Galatasaray taste tackles with French club LOSC Lille on Wednesday night.

Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro has promised a fierce battle against Osimhen ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash between Lille and Galatasaray.

The Brazilian centre-back expects a difficult contest against the Nigerian striker when the two sides meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on October 21.

Both teams are seeking their first points after losing their opening two matches in Europe’s premier club competition.

What Alexsandro said about Osimhen

Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Alexsandro acknowledged the challenge of containing one of Europe’s most physically imposing forwards.

“Yes, I’ll be playing against Osimhen. It’s going to be a tough match for us. It will be a bit of a battle between the two of us,” he said.

“Playing against Osimhen is always difficult. I’ve already played a friendly match against him. It’s going to be a battle tomorrow, but it’s going to be great too.”

How Osimhen could trouble Alexsandro

Osimhen is making a return to Lille after leaving the French side for Italy more than six years ago. The striker scored 18 goals in 38 appearances during his 2019/20 campaign with LOSC Lille before joining Napoli.

Now, he returns to the stadium where he won the Marc-Vivien Foe award, looking for his first Champions League goal of the season.

Last season, he managed seven goals and added three assists in only ten games, including strikes against Liverpool, Juventus and Ajax.

Lille could be the first team to concede to Osimhen this term except Alexsandro is able to stop the Super Eagles striker.

Alexsandro will need more than physical strength to keep the Galatasaray forward quie, though. Osimhen’s movement across the defensive line, explosive runs behind defenders and ability to attack crosses can make him difficult to track throughout a match.

The Nigerian can also use his strength to hold off challenges, bring teammates into play and create space for supporting attackers. His pressing could prove equally important, particularly if Lille make mistakes while building from the back.

Lille vs Galatasaray, scheduled to be played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, is billed to kickoff at 17:45 Nigerian time.