Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen strikes as Galatasaray survive Rennes thriller

Victor Osimhen continued his preparations for the new season with a goal as Galatasaray were forced to settle for a dramatic 3-3 draw against French side Rennes in an entertaining pre-season encounter at RAMS Park.

The Nigerian striker gave the Turkish champions an early advantage after finding the back of the net in the 18th minute, underlining his importance to Okan Buruk’s side ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Rennes, however, refused to be overwhelmed and responded before the break through Lepaul, who restored parity to ensure both teams entered half-time level.

Osimhen involved as Rennes fight back

Galatasaray regained control shortly after the restart when Gabriel Sara put the hosts back in front, but Rennes continued to expose defensive gaps and punished their opponents through Lepaul once again.

The French forward completed his hat-trick later in the match, converting from the penalty spot to give Rennes a 3-2 lead and put Galatasaray under pressure.

With defeat looming, the Turkish side pushed for a late equaliser and were rewarded deep into stoppage time. Osimhen was brought down inside the box, allowing Barış Alper Yılmaz to step up and convert the resulting penalty to secure a share of the spoils.

The six-goal contest provided another valuable workout for Galatasaray as they fine-tune their squad ahead of the new season, with Osimhen once again playing a key role in their attacking output.

The Istanbul giants will continue their pre-season schedule when they host Spanish club Villarreal at RAMS Park on Saturday, August 8, as preparations intensify before competitive football resumes.