Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes but could not get on the scoresheet on Tuesday night as Galatasaray beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League at RAMS Park, Istanbul. Both goals came from Russian midfielder Aleksey Batrakov, who struck twice in the space of three minutes early in the first half.
The matchday-four result gives the Turkish champions back-to-back wins in the league phase and moves them into the top 24, the places that keep a club in the competition beyond January.
Batrakov Settles It Inside 15 Minutes
Stuttgart started brightly, and Galatasaray were lucky not to fall behind when Jamie Leweling struck the woodwork in the opening ten minutes, according to The Eagle Online.
The hosts made them pay. In the 12th minute, Batrakov reacted first to a loose ball after a cross from Roland Sallai was deflected and fired into the roof of the net. Three minutes later he doubled the lead, running onto a through ball from Davinson Sánchez and slotting it past goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow.
Stuttgart thought they had pulled one back through Chris Führich, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Deniz Undav. Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made important saves late on to protect the clean sheet, while Bredlow kept the score down at the other end and denied Batrakov a hat-trick.
Osimhen’s Frustrating Night
Osimhen was a constant threat but his finishing let him down. Blueprint’s match report lists a string of chances for the Nigerian: a long-range shot over the bar midway through the first half, a header wide from a corner, and an effort blocked just before the break.
His best moments came after the restart. Bredlow saved a close-range attempt in the 56th minute, and a minute later Osimhen dragged a shot narrowly wide from a tight angle. In the 71st minute he turned provider, setting up Rafael Leão, who could not convert. A final effort in stoppage time also went wide.
Not everyone saw the night as a failure. Turkish pundit and former Beşiktaş midfielder Sinan Engin argued that Osimhen’s presence pulled defenders away and created the space Batrakov exploited, The Eagle Online reported.
Where Galatasaray Stand
The victory follows Galatasaray’s 4-2 away win at Lille in October, a game in which Osimhen scored. Complete Sports says the striker now has one goal in three Champions League appearances this season, a modest return for a player who has been one of Europe’s most feared forwards since his Napoli days.
For Stuttgart it was a first defeat in this season’s competition. Reports also noted that they became the first German side to lose away to Galatasaray since 1992.
What It Means for Nigeria
Osimhen remains the focal point of Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles attack, so Nigerian fans watch his club form closely. Missing several clear chances will not cause alarm on its own. He stayed on for the full match, kept getting into scoring positions and was still involved in the build-up, which suggests he is fit and sharp, even if his finishing was off.
Galatasaray’s coaching staff will be satisfied with the result and the clean sheet. Batrakov’s form also gives the side another scoring option, which can take some of the burden off Osimhen.
What Happens Next
Galatasaray return to domestic action in the Turkish Süper Lig before their next Champions League fixture. Complete Sports reports that the Istanbul club will host Aston Villa on Tuesday, November 24, a game that could go a long way to securing a top-24 finish. Osimhen will be hoping to add to his European tally then.
Wednesday’s Champions League fixtures include Slavia Prague against Arsenal and RB Leipzig against Manchester City, both at 9pm Nigerian time.
Sources: Complete Sports, The Eagle Online, Blueprint, Vanguard.
