Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has warned Galatasaray against underestimating Barcelona ahead of their UEFA Champions League encounter, describing the Spanish giants as a formidable opponent with quality players capable of testing the Turkish champions.
Osimhen’s comments come as Galatasaray prepare to host Barcelona at RAMS Park on Tuesday, October 13, following the Nigerian forward’s return from a groin injury that kept him out of action for several weeks.
The 27-year-old acknowledged Barcelona’s reputation and the challenge awaiting his team, while expressing excitement about competing against one of Europe’s most established clubs.
“Barcelona is a very big team. You shouldn’t be happy about playing against them, because they have very quality players. It will help us both collectively and individually. I’m happy for matches like this. It will be a great match,” Osimhen said, according to Turkish media outlet Futbol Arena.
His remarks underline the level of preparation Galatasaray will need for the fixture, particularly after their difficult start to this season’s Champions League campaign.
Galatasaray opened their European campaign with a 3-1 defeat away to Sporting CP, leaving the Turkish side under pressure to produce a stronger performance against Barcelona.
The upcoming match presents an opportunity for the Istanbul club to respond in front of their home supporters, although Barcelona’s quality and attacking strength will make the task demanding.
The Spanish side began their Champions League campaign with a commanding 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, demonstrating their ability to create scoring opportunities and punish defensive mistakes.
Barcelona have also maintained an impressive domestic presence, making the contest an important test of Galatasaray’s ability to compete against elite European opposition.
For Osimhen, the fixture carries additional significance because he has previously faced Barcelona in the Champions League during his time at Napoli.
The Nigerian striker scored in Napoli’s 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of their 2023/24 Champions League round-of-16 tie. However, Barcelona won the return leg 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals with a 4-2 aggregate victory.
That experience gives Osimhen a personal reference point ahead of another meeting with the Catalan club, although Galatasaray will need a collective performance to secure a positive result.
The striker’s return from injury has provided an important boost for the Turkish side ahead of the encounter.
Osimhen had been sidelined since sustaining a muscle injury in Galatasaray’s 3-2 league victory over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4. The injury forced him to miss several matches, including the club’s Champions League opener against Sporting CP.
He also missed league fixtures against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor before returning to action against Kasımpaşa on Friday, October 9.
The Nigerian forward came off the bench in the 77th minute of that match and helped Galatasaray secure a 3-1 victory despite playing with 10 men following Lucas Torreira’s dismissal.
Galatasaray had taken the lead through Abdülkerim Bardakcı in the 45th minute before Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalised for Kasımpaşa in the 68th minute.
Barış Alper Yılmaz restored the home side’s advantage in the 90th minute before Osimhen contributed to Mario Lemina’s stoppage-time goal, which sealed the victory.
His assist on his return demonstrated his ability to influence a match even after spending several weeks away from competitive football.
The result also provided Galatasaray with valuable momentum before their European assignment, while Osimhen’s return gave coach Okan Buruk another attacking option.
Nevertheless, the striker’s fitness and ability to sustain a high level of performance will be important considerations as the club prepares for the Barcelona encounter.
Galatasaray have historically found Barcelona difficult opponents in European competition. Their previous meetings in the Champions League have generally favoured the Spanish side, adding another layer of difficulty to Tuesday’s contest.
For the Turkish champions, the challenge will be to combine defensive discipline with the attacking threat provided by Osimhen and his teammates.
The Nigerian striker’s pace, physical strength and finishing ability could be important against Barcelona, particularly if Galatasaray can create opportunities in transition. However, the team will also need to limit the space available to Barcelona’s attackers and avoid the defensive errors that proved costly against Sporting CP.
Osimhen’s warning should therefore be viewed as recognition of the challenge rather than an admission of defeat. The forward has expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete against a major European opponent while acknowledging the quality Barcelona will bring to the encounter.
With the match approaching, Galatasaray will hope their home advantage and Osimhen’s return can help them produce a stronger European performance.
For Nigerian football supporters, the fixture offers another opportunity to watch one of the country’s leading strikers compete on a major continental stage.
Whether Osimhen can turn his encouraging return into another decisive Champions League performance will become clearer when Galatasaray welcome Barcelona to Istanbul on Tuesday.
