Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has hailed Galatasaray’s performance following their entertaining Champions League 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, describing the contest as an even battle against elite opposition.
The Turkish champions went toe to toe with Diego Simeone’s side in a match that underlined their growing confidence on the European stage.
Atletico struck first through Giuliano Simeone, momentarily silencing the home support, but Galatasaray responded with composure and intensity.
Marcos Llorente’s own goal ensured the first half ended level in a high tempo contest marked by chances at both ends. While neither side could find a decisive breakthrough after the interval, the match left a strong impression, particularly for the Super Lig side, who matched their opponents for long stretches.
Osimhen was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the performance. “We knew before the match that we would be playing against a strong opponent,” he said.
“I congratulate my teammates for their fight throughout the 90 minutes; we did a good job against a great opponent.” The forward also stressed how evenly balanced the game felt on the pitch. “The match was 50-50. We had chances to finish the game in some moments. I’m happy with our performance.”
Attention now turns to Galatasaray’s next Champions League fixture against Manchester City, one of the tournament favourites. Osimhen, however, is keen to keep expectations measured as the schedule intensifies.
“Manchester City is one of the best teams in the world. We’ll take it one game at a time,” he said, underlining the importance of maintaining focus.
For now, the Nigerian striker wants Galatasaray to concentrate on domestic matters before shifting attention back to Europe.
“We’ll focus on the league first, then on that game. It won’t be easy, but I trust my team. I’m looking at it positively. We can get something out of it. The most important thing is to have a good game, like we did against Atletico.”
