Omanghana
Galatasaray will begin their UEFA Champions League campaign without Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen after medical examinations confirmed an injury to his right adductor muscle group.
Osimhen suffered the injury during Galatasaray’s dramatic 3-2 Süper Lig victory over İstanbul Başakşehir. Subsequent scans revealed an advanced-moderate strain accompanied by bleeding in the affected muscle.
The 27-year-old has consequently been ruled out of Galatasaray’s opening Champions League league-phase encounter against Sporting CP in Lisbon.
His absence represents a significant setback for manager Okan Buruk, with the Nigerian international having started the domestic campaign in excellent form. Osimhen scored six goals in his first four league appearances, establishing himself as a central figure in the club’s attack.
Galatasaray’s medical team expects the forward to remain sidelined for approximately three weeks. In addition to missing the European opener, he is also likely to be unavailable for Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
The Turkish champions will closely monitor Osimhen’s rehabilitation as they attempt to avoid aggravating the injury through an early return.
If his recovery proceeds as expected, Galatasaray hope to have their leading striker available for their high-profile Champions League home fixture against Barcelona.
Source: Omanghana
