Galatasaray’s title charge in the Turkish Super Lig has hit a tense phase following the absence of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, whose injury has exposed cracks in the team’s push for the championship.
The league leaders have struggled to maintain momentum since Osimhen was sidelined with an arm injury sustained on March 18 during a UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Liverpool.
Since then, the 27-year-old has missed three league matches, with Galatasaray managing just one win and dropping five crucial points from a possible nine. The dip in form has allowed rivals to close the gap significantly.
Galatasaray now sit on 68 points, only two ahead of fierce rivals Fenerbahçe, who trail closely with 66 points, while Trabzonspor remain in contention with 64 points.
Across all competitions this season, Osimhen has missed 11 matches due to injury. In those games, Galatasaray have recorded five wins, two draws, and four losses dropping a total of 16 points, highlighting the forward’s importance to the squad.
Despite the recent setback, head coach Okan Buruk remains optimistic about both the team’s title chances and Osimhen’s return.
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“Osimhen has started training. He will be in the squad for the weekend. We dropped points and lost an advantage, but not our confidence. I trust my players and our fans we will celebrate the championship together,” Buruk stated.
Osimhen has already resumed non-contact training and is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming fixture against Gençlerbirliği this weekend.
He could also be fully fit in time for the crucial derby clash against Fenerbahçe next week.
The Nigerian forward, who joined Galatasaray in a €75 million deal last summer, has been instrumental this season.
He has scored 12 league goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances, in addition to netting seven times in the Champions League.
He currently sits just behind Mauro Icardi, who leads the club’s scoring chart with 13 goals in 27 matches.
As the title race intensifies, all eyes will be on Osimhen’s recovery a potential turning point in Galatasaray’s quest to retain their crown.
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