Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk has explained the decision to substitute Victor Osimhen during the club’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Liverpool, easing concerns about the striker’s fitness after he left the pitch in the second half.
Osimhen, who scored the decisive first-half goal to secure the Turkish champions’ crucial win at the RAMS Park in Istanbul, was replaced in the 72nd minute by Mauro Icardi.
Osimhen’s impact and the reason behind the substitution
The change sparked speculation, but Buruk moved quickly to calm nerves. The Super Eagles striker was once again central to Galatasaray’s European ambitions.
His clinical finish in the 26th minute separated the two sides on a tense night, extending his Champions League tally to 10 goals and further sealing his place as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in the competition.
After the match, Buruk clarified that Osimhen’s substitution was precautionary rather than injury-related.
“Osimhen was feeling tired and had a cramp in his foot, but we don’t think it’s anything serious. There’s no negative information coming in at this time,” the coach told the club’s website.
The update came as a relief for Galatasaray supporters, who are counting on the Nigerian forward to spearhead their Champions League and domestic campaigns this season.
Galatasaray’s victory boosts ucl ambitions
The narrow win over Liverpool was as much about Osimhen’s goal as it was about Galatasaray’s disciplined defensive performance.
The Nigerian recently returned from an ankle injury and had played only five minutes in the weekend Super Lig win over Alanyaspor.
Despite not being at full match sharpness, he delivered when it mattered most. Tuesday’s display was another sign of his resilience.
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