Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen stole the spotlight with a brace, leading Galatasaray to a 3-2 Europa League victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Osimhen’s goals helped the Istanbul side leap to first place in the 36-team standings with 10 points, establishing them as strong contenders for the knockout rounds.
The Napoli-loanee opened his Europa League goal account in style. His first came in the 32nd minute with a composed right-footed strike from inside the box that reclaimed the lead for Galatasaray after Will Lankshear’s equalizer.
Osimhen doubled his tally in the 39th minute, displaying clinical precision with a left-footed shot that extended Galatasaray's advantage to 3-1. Despite a late response from Spurs’ Dominic Solanke, the Turkish giants held on for a memorable win.
Postecoglou's pre-match prediction falls short
Before the match, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou downplayed concerns about Osimhen’s threat. However, the Nigerian striker’s performance silenced any doubts, as he proved too formidable for Tottenham’s defense.
The reigning CAF Player of the Year was heavily involved throughout his 80 minutes on the pitch, managing five shots on target from a total of seven attempts and forcing several saves from Tottenham’s goalkeeper.
His Expected Goals (xG) of 1.94 demonstrated his clinical positioning, while he also contributed with a key pass and attempted two dribbles. Osimhen won one of his three ground duels and was notably successful in aerial battles, securing three out of five duels.
Osimhen was subbed off in the 80th minute, leaving with two crucial goals and an xG of nearly two. His efficient passing rate (69%) and accurate touches kept Galatasaray’s momentum against a challenging Premier League opponent, securing a vital three points in their Europa League campaign.
