Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored Galatasaray’s fourth goal at Lille (4-2) in the Champions League, without celebrating against his former club, before switching focus to the derby against Fenerbahçe.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy saw Victor Osimhen again, but the Nigerian striker did not want to make it a party. In the 61st minute, he scored Galatasaray’s fourth goal on the pitch at Lille, in a 4-2 Champions League win, according to Vanguard.
Rather than celebrating his goal, Osimhen raised his hands to apologise and formed a heart towards the Lille stands, reports Canal+. The gesture was aimed at his former club, whom he had carried in 2019-2020 with 18 goals in 38 competitive matches, according to Punch Newspapers.
A goal for the club’s history
With this strike, the striker takes his tally to 14 goals on the European stage in a Galatasaray shirt. According to Legit News, it is a record for a foreign player in the history of the Istanbul club. A mark that adds to an already busy start to the season: 7 goals and 3 assists in 8 appearances in all competitions, according to SABC Sport.
The collective result matters just as much. Lille led 2-1 at half-time thanks to a double from striker Soriba Diaoune (7th, 39th), against an early goal from winger Yunus Akgün (2nd), according to Vanguard. Galatasaray therefore turned the match around after the break to claim their first three points in the league phase, after two initial defeats against Sporting CP (3-1) and Barcelona (4-1), according to Punch Newspapers.
End of away run
This victory also puts an end to a bad spell away from home: the Turkish club had lost 5 consecutive away games in the Champions League, according to Türkiye Today.
Osimhen, for his part, made a point of acknowledging the welcome he received. “Coming back here was very emotional. It’s a place where I grew a lot in my career. I love this club and its supporters so much,” he told Canal+. Words that explain the striker’s gesture, between respect for his past and professionalism in the service of his current club.
The derby already on his mind
Without transition, the Nigerian striker switched to the upcoming Süper Lig clash against Fenerbahçe, at RAMS Park, as reported by Türkiye Today. “When you talk about a derby, you talk about a match full of emotion. There can also be chaos. We really can’t wait to be there,” he said.
This Istanbul derby will be played at RAMS Park, in the Süper Lig, a few days after Galatasaray’s European victory.