Osimhen reveals why scoring the penalty against Alisson was important in Gala win Vs Liverpool

Victor Osimhen etched his name into Galatasaray folklore on Tuesday night, scoring the decisive penalty in a 1-0 Champions League triumph over Liverpool, a moment that carried deep personal meaning for the Nigerian striker.

Facing injury doubts ahead of the match, Osimhen returned to the starting XI and delivered instantly, ending Galatasaray’s seven-year wait for a home win in Europe’s elite competition.

The goal sparked jubilant scenes at RAMS Park, but for Osimhen, it was more than just a match-winner, it was redemption.

Osimhen had previously faced Liverpool twice during his Napoli days, including a painful moment in 2022 when Alisson Becker denied him from the spot.

This was in Napoli’s 4-1 demolition of the Premier League side when the Nigerian had the chance to double the Serie A side’s advantage on 18 minutes after Piotr Zieliński scored from the spot on five minutes after James Milner handball in the box but Alisson saved the kick.

This time, the 26-year-old made no mistake.

‘You come face-to-face with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Alisson. I needed to be highly concentrated to do better,’ Osimhen said.

His successful penalty not only sealed the win but also exorcised a lingering ghost.

Alisson, whom Osimhen praised as one of the world’s finest, was later forced off with injury, adding another twist to the night’s drama.

Despite the victory, Osimhen was full of admiration for his opponents.

‘I’m extremely happy about the performance we put in against one of the greatest clubs in the world,’ he told CBS Sports. ‘Liverpool gave us a true test.’