1998 FIFA World Cup winner Thierry Henry has singled out a key Victor Osimhen attribute in Galatasaray’s 5-2 win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, Soccernet.ng reports.
Okan Buruk’s Galatasaray started their UCL campaign on the front foot, sealing victories against Liverpool, Ajax and Bodo/Glimt before losses to Monaco, Union St. Gilloise, and Manchester City took them off course.
As a result, Osimhen’s side had to settle for a play-off spot in a bid to advance to the final sixteen of the Champions League.
They were drawn against Juventus, a familiar European powerhouse, but Galatasaray made good use of their home advantage.
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How Osimhen performed against Juventus
The Super Eagles striker wasn’t on the scoresheet last night, but had a significant impact in four of the five goals Galatasaray scored on the night.
Osimhen’s pressing led to Gleison Bremer losing the ball under pressure, and Gabriel Sara pounced on the opportunity to put the ball past Michele Di Gregorio.
Noa Lang’s first goal of the night came after Asper Yilmaz played a cross across the goal and into a crowded six-yard box, where Di Gregorio parried the attempt. Osimhen was holding off a defender, and as such, Lang had an empty goal to tap the ball into.
The ex-Napoli striker was also in the mix again for Lang’s second goal. Osimhen pounced upon Khephren Thuram’s backpass to Lloyd Kelly, and the resulting pass gave Lang an opening to score Galatasaray’s fourth goal.
Sacha Boey came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute and scored three minutes later. Sanchez’s ball up the right channel was played inside by the French full-back.
He then continued his run into the Juventus box while Sane and Osimhen combined on the outside. The ball ricocheted off Osimhen’s boot and fell into Boey’s path, and he found the far corner, hitting the ball off the crossbar to make it five for the Turkish giants.
Thierry Henry praises Osimhen’s pressing
The Arsenal legend, reacting to the goals Galatasaray scored on the CBS Sports Golazo show, highlighted the Nigerian’s importance in Okan Buruk’s setup.
“Osimhen’s pressing made space for the first goal because Juventus didn’t know what to do at the back. The ball came back to Sara, and he scored to make it one-nil,” the Euros 2000 winner said as monitored by Soccernet.ng.
“You can see Osimhen winning the battle against the Juve defenders, and what a finish for Boey,” Henry said, reacting to his involvement in Sacha Boey’s goal.
Victor Osimhen has now been involved in eight goals for Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League this season, scoring six and setting up two.
