Galatasaray handed huge Victor Osimhen boost days before Liverpool clash

Galatasaray will host Liverpool at RAMS Park on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League and the Turkish giants have been handed a huge boost ahead of the clash

Galatasaray have received a massive boost ahead of their Champions League showdown with Liverpool. The Turkish heavyweights will welcome Arne Slot’s men to RAMS Park on Tuesday evening as both sides aim to surge up the Champions League standings.

Following Galatasaray’s 1-0 triumph over Alanyaspor on Friday evening, head coach Okan Buruk spoke to journalists and offered an encouraging update on Victor Osimhen, who made a fleeting appearance from the substitutes’ bench.

The Nigerian striker has been battling an ankle problem picked up during a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda earlier this month. “We wanted to play him for ten minutes. We wanted him to experience the pain,” said Buruk, as quoted by All Nigeria Soccer. “Sometimes there’s pain, and it’s important to [play] through pain.”

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“He’s not 100 per cent physically ready. He hasn’t had a team training session since returning from the national team. He played with us briefly yesterday (on Thursday).

“We’ll assess his pain and physical condition before thinking about the next match,” added the Galatasaray boss. “Baris might have wanted a winger there when he came off today, but I specifically brought Osimhen on so he could play 10 minutes, have a chance to play the next match, and contribute to us.”

Regarding ensuring Osimhen is available to face Liverpool, Buruk revealed: “We may have changed our formation and had trouble covering the opposition. However we’re taking these risks to ensure he plays.”

Galatasaray were hammered 5-1 in their opening European fixture by German side Eintracht Frankfurt despite the former initially going in front.

Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 24 hours earlier, with a late Virgil van Dijk header sealing all three points after a Marcos Llorente brace cancelled out early goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.

Following the trip to Galatasaray, Liverpool also take on Frankfurt with Hugo Ekitike set for a return to his old club just a few months on from leaving. Real Madrid, PSV, Inter, Marseille and Qarabag are Liverpool’s Champions League opponents after that

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