UCL: Osimhen Battle-Ready for Barcelona — Galatasaray Coach

Galatasaray assistant coach Ismael García has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is fit and available for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against Barcelona.

The 27-year-old returned from a groin injury during Galatasaray’s 3-1 Turkish Super Lig victory over Kasımpaşa on Friday, providing an assist after coming on as a substitute.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, García described Osimhen as a key player for the Turkish champions and said the striker’s pace and movement could cause problems for Barcelona’s defence.

“I’m not going to give you clichés or tell you lies: he is ready to play, and he is a player who makes a big difference for us,” García said.

He added that Barcelona’s aggressive defensive approach, which often involves pushing the back line high up the pitch, could create opportunities for Osimhen to exploit spaces behind the defenders.

According to García, the Nigerian’s ability to make quick forward runs and attack open spaces makes him particularly suited to the challenge posed by Barcelona’s system under head coach Hansi Flick.

The assistant coach, however, acknowledged the quality of the Spanish side, describing the prospect of facing Barcelona as a difficult test. He said Galatasaray would need to remain disciplined while taking advantage of opportunities to attack.

Osimhen’s return is a boost for Galatasaray, who are seeking to recover from their 3-1 defeat to Sporting CP in their opening Champions League league-phase fixture.

Barcelona arrive in Istanbul after a 3-0 La Liga victory over Getafe. The Spanish side also began their European campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord.

The match will be played at RAMS Park, where Galatasaray will hope their home support can help them secure a positive result against the Catalan club.

Osimhen previously faced Barcelona while playing for Napoli in the 2024 Champions League round of 16, scoring in the first leg before Napoli were eliminated following a 3-1 defeat in the return fixture.

With the Nigerian striker back from injury, Galatasaray will look to his attacking threat as they prepare for one of their biggest European tests of the season.