By Achile Danjuma
Victor Osimhen has admitted he would prefer to avoid Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, although the Nigerian striker insists Galatasaray are ready to “dig it out” against any opponent after surviving a dramatic scare against Juventus.
Osimhen was the hero on a nerve-shredding night in Istanbul, scoring a crucial extra-time goal to guide the Turkish champions into the last sixteen following a gripping 7-5 aggregate victory over the Italian giants.
Galatasaray arrived for the second leg holding a commanding 5-2 advantage from the first meeting in Turin. However, Juventus mounted a stunning fightback, scoring three unanswered goals to level the aggregate score at 5-5 and force an additional 30 minutes of play.
With tensions rising and Galatasaray on the brink of a devastating collapse, Osimhen stepped up to settle the tie, netting in extra time before Baris Alper Yilmaz added a second to seal the win and spark jubilant scenes.
The victory sets up a last-16 clash with either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, and Osimhen did not hide his preference when speaking to CBS Sports after the final whistle.
“To be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge,” Osimhen said, hinting at past encounters. “I wouldn’t say much, but I would like to escape Liverpool. But if they come, yeah, we’re going to dig it out, but it’s not going to be easy.”
Despite his desire to avoid Arne Slot’s side, the Nigerian forward made it clear that Galatasaray will not shy away from a challenge, acknowledging that success in Europe demands facing the very best.
“This is the Champions League, no team is easy. If you want to win, you also have to play the big dogs and make a statement for yourself,” he added. “We’ve met Liverpool before, but we haven’t played at Anfield. If we meet them, it’s going to be an amazing game. I think we’re up to the task. It’s not going to be easy, of course, but we have fight in us.”