Victor Osimhen sends strong message to R16 UCL opponents

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor James Osimhen has sent a strong note of warning to the club’s potential opponents in the next round of the UEFA Champions League, Afrik Foot reports.

The 27-year-old wasn’t on the scoresheet in the first leg, but he produced two assists in RAMS Park as Okan Buruk’s men ran riot in front of their home crowd, defeating Juventus 5-2.

However, the second leg was an entirely different story, as Galatasaray’s three-goal advantage was overturned by the Old Ladies in Turin.

Osimhen came to the rescue in extra time before Baris Asper Yilmaz put the game beyond Juventus in the 119th minute.

Osimhen sends strong message to next UCL opponents

Galatasaray’s next hurdle is the UEFA Champions League round of 16, where they’ll face Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool.

In the group phase, Okan Buruk’s men played against Liverpool and secured a 1-0 victory over Arne Slot’s side, with Osimhen scoring the only goal of the game.

Speaking after Galatasaray’s win over Juventus, the former Napoli man revealed the team want to make a statement of intent in the next round, regardless of the opponent they face.

“We want to make a statement in the Champions League. We want to do something extraordinary, you know,” Osimhen said in an interview with Stan Sport Football.

“We want to pass a message to everyone that there is a team in Turkiye that can really put up a fight against the big dogs, and that team is Galatasaray.

“We try to take the game as they come, and then we’re happy that we’re in the next round.

“We know it won’t be easy, and this kind of performance that we showed, we have to step it up for sure,” the Super Eagles forward concluded.

The UEFA Champions League draw will take place on Friday, and Galatasaray, alongside the remaining 16 teams in the competition, will know their opponents.