Victor Osimhen’s Champions League journey came to a painful end after Galatasaray were outplayed by Liverpool at Anfield, with the Nigerian forward’s injury proving a decisive turning point in the tie.
Galatasaray entered the second leg with a slim advantage, but their plans quickly fell apart when Victor Osimhen picked up a serious arm injury following a challenge from Ibrahima Konaté.
Victor Osimhen injury update: Early blow shifts momentum at Anfield
The striker tried to continue despite the pain, but his movement was clearly limited. His reduced impact weakened Galatasaray’s attacking threat, and he was eventually withdrawn at halftime.
“In the first half of our away match against Liverpool in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg, our player Victor Osimhen took a blow to his arm and completed the first half, but following checks at halftime, he was not played in the second half due to the risk of a fracture in his arm,” the club revealed.
Speaking after the match, Okan Buruk pointed to the physical nature of the game and the lack of protection for his key player, stressing how Osimhen’s absence changed everything for his side.
Without their leading striker, Galatasaray struggled to maintain any attacking rhythm. Liverpool took full advantage, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch, and a landmark strike from Mohamed Salah sealing a dominant performance.
Although goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir managed to deny Salah from the penalty spot, it did little to stop the flow of the game as Liverpool surged into the quarter-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.
“But our opponent deserved to win the match much more than us. There were unfortunate events; our start to the game, Osimhen’s injury, our inability to make our presence felt during the game, and the confidence we gave to our opponent.”
Osimhen injury update: Surgery decision looms after confirmed fracture
Further medical checks confirmed the extent of Victor Osimhen’s injury, raising concerns about a potential spell on the sidelines.
“After the match, under the supervision of our medical team, examinations at the hospital revealed a fracture in our player’s right forearm, and it was casted. A decision regarding surgery will be made in the coming days following further evaluations,” the club added.
The development brings a frustrating end to what had been a strong European campaign for the Nigerian forward.
Now, attention shifts to his recovery, with Galatasaray and their supporters waiting for clarity on whether surgery will be required.