By Achile Danjuma
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen continued his red-hot form on Saturday, scoring his 10th Super Lig goal of the season and providing an assist to lead Galatasaray to a commanding 3-1 victory over Alanyaspor. The win at Rams Park extends the Lions’ lead at the summit of the Turkish top flight to five points.
The match sprang to life just before the interval when Sacha Boey finished off a sublime team move to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. However, Alanyaspor hit back swiftly after the restart, with Steve Mounie powering home a header in the 49th minute to level the score.
Galatasaray’s response was emphatic. Just before the hour mark, Osimhen attempted a spectacular bicycle kick inside the box. Though the effort was blocked, the ball fell kindly for Lucas Torreira, who blasted it into the net. The assist was rightly credited to the Nigerian forward for his initial improvisation.
Osimhen then put the game to bed in the 83rd minute, capitalizing on a catastrophic error by Alanyaspor goalkeeper Paulo Victor. Under pressure, the 39-year-old goalkeeper played the ball directly to Osimhen, who calmly dribbled around him before slotting into an empty net to round off the scoring.
The victory takes Galatasaray to 58 points from 24 matches, five clear of bitter rivals Fenerbahce, who hold a game in hand. Trabzonspor remain third with 51 points.
Osimhen’s scintillating run of form could not be better timed, as he now prepares for a blockbuster UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie against Liverpool. The draw, made on Friday, pits the Nigerian international against the Premier League leaders over two legs in March.
Osimhen had previously admitted he was hoping to avoid Arne Slot’s side, but he will now be tasked with leading Galatasaray’s charge. The forward has already made his mark against the English giants this season, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in Istanbul during the league phase.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is acutely aware of the threat. “We know in the away leg we will have to perform better than the last time we were in Istanbul back in September,” Slot admitted, referencing his side’s narrow defeat. The upcoming tie promises to be a fascinating battle between one of Europe’s most in-form strikers and a Liverpool defense seeking redemption.