Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention when Galatasaray travel to the Stade Louis II on Tuesday night to face AS Monaco in their Champions League matchday six fixture.
The Nigerian striker has already scored six goals in just three appearances this season, but he trails Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé by three in the race for the competition’s golden boot.
Osimhen missed Galatasaray’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise on matchday five, but he returned to action at the weekend with two goals in the Turkish Super Lig 3-2 win over Samsunspor.
Now fully fit, the 26-year-old is determined to add to his tally against Monaco. He has fond memories of facing the French side, having scored twice in two previous meetings during his time in Ligue 1 before moving to Italy in 2020.
As the 2022/23 Serie A top scorer, Osimhen carries the confidence and pedigree to inspire Galatasaray’s push for knockout qualification.
The fixture also rekindles a rivalry between Monaco and Galatasaray that stretches back to the early 2000s.
Monaco boast a formidable home record against Turkish opposition, winning four of their last five encounters and scoring heavily in each. Galatasaray, by contrast, have struggled in France, with just two wins in 11 visits and none in their last five. The Turkish giants are chasing consecutive away victories in the Champions League for the first time since 2012/13, and Osimhen’s remarkable streak of 12 goals in his last eight European appearances gives them hope.
Adding further intrigue, Wilfried Singo will line up against his former club Monaco after a summer move to Galatasaray, ensuring Tuesday’s clash carries both personal and competitive storylines.
