Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has identified Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as a major threat ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Galatasaray, praising the forward’s quality and warning his players to prepare for a difficult encounter.
Flick spoke ahead of Tuesday’s match against the Turkish champions after Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory over Getafe in their previous outing on Saturday. The German coach acknowledged Galatasaray’s attacking strength and insisted that his team would need to produce their best performance to secure a positive result.
The Barcelona manager described Osimhen as a fantastic striker and praised the overall quality of the Galatasaray squad.
“Galatasaray have a fantastic striker like Osimhen; they really have a great squad. We need to be ready for this match. We must play our best football against Galatasaray,” Flick said.
The remarks underline the respect Osimhen has earned through his performances in European football, with the Nigerian international expected to play an important role as Galatasaray seek to challenge Barcelona.
Osimhen has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign, registering six goals and three assists in five league appearances, according to figures reported ahead of the fixture. His contribution has strengthened his reputation as one of Galatasaray’s most dangerous attacking players.
The 27-year-old recently returned from a groin injury and made an immediate impact, coming off the bench to provide the assist for Mario Lemina’s 96th-minute goal in Galatasaray’s 3-1 victory over Kasımpaşa on Friday.
Despite playing with 10 men during that encounter, Galatasaray secured the win, with Osimhen helping the team maintain its attacking threat after his introduction.
His return is a significant boost for the Turkish side as they prepare to face Barcelona, although his fitness and readiness for a starting role remain important considerations ahead of the contest.
Osimhen is expected to be in contention to start at RAMS Park, where the atmosphere is likely to provide an additional challenge for the Spanish visitors. Flick acknowledged the intensity associated with playing in Istanbul, describing the venue as one of the loudest stadiums in world football.
The Barcelona manager also stressed that Champions League matches demand a different level of preparation because of the quality of the participating teams.
“We’ll be playing in the world’s loudest stadium. We need to prepare for that. This is the Champions League, it’s different. Every team in the Champions League is very good,” he said.
Osimhen, meanwhile, has recognised the challenge Barcelona present. The Nigerian striker acknowledged the Spanish club’s quality but expressed enthusiasm about competing against a team featuring some of Europe’s leading players.
“Barcelona is a very big team. You shouldn’t be happy about playing against them, because they have very quality players,” Osimhen said.
He added that facing such opponents could benefit Galatasaray both collectively and individually, describing the fixture as an opportunity for the Turkish club to test itself against elite opposition.
The upcoming meeting also brings back memories of Osimhen’s previous encounters with Barcelona during his time at Napoli. He scored in the first leg of their 2024 Champions League round-of-16 tie, which ended in a 1-1 draw. However, Napoli lost the return fixture 3-1 and were eliminated from the competition.
Galatasaray will be looking to improve their position after opening their Champions League campaign with a 3-1 defeat away to Sporting CP. Barcelona, by contrast, began with a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, giving Flick’s side an encouraging start to the competition.
Historical results also present a challenge for Galatasaray. The Turkish club have recorded one win, two draws and five defeats in eight previous Champions League meetings with Barcelona.
For Osimhen, the fixture offers another opportunity to demonstrate his ability against elite European opposition and help Galatasaray respond to their opening defeat.
Barcelona will be favourites to draw confidence from their strong start, but Flick’s public praise of Osimhen suggests his side are taking the Nigerian forward’s threat seriously.
With Galatasaray needing a result and Osimhen returning from injury, the contest promises an important test for both teams as they pursue their Champions League ambitions.
