Player Of the Match Osimhen Hails Juventus Fightback but Says Galatasaray Deserve Last-16 Spot

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has hailed his side’s resilience after their dramatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League round of 16, despite losing 3–2 to Juventus in the second leg in Turin.

The Turkish champions advanced 7–5 on aggregate, with Osimhen’s extra-time strike proving decisive.

Named Player of the Match, Osimhen told TRT 1 that the contest had been ‘disappointing from the beginning’ but praised Juventus for their fight.

‘Congratulations to Juventus, they pushed us very hard. Even 10 men pushed hard and scored two goals. I am happy with my goal and what I did. We are aware that we have a lot to work on. Juventus deserved to win, but we deserved the round,’ he said.

He also paid tribute to Galatasaray’s supporters, adding: ‘Even in the most difficult moment, the fans were with us. They didn’t stop supporting us even when we were behind. Thanks to them, we can say that we skipped the round. We need their support very much and we are sure that they will be with us every step of the way.’

Osimhen’s goal was his 13th in European competition for Galatasaray, taking him past Gheorghe Hagi’s tally of 10 to become the club’s highest-scoring foreign player in continental tournaments.

Since joining permanently from Napoli in July 2025, following a prolific loan spell the previous season, the Nigerian striker has quickly established himself as a record-breaker.

His exploits have sparked debate among fans about his legacy compared to past Galatasaray greats such as Mario Jardel.