Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has admitted the absence of Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen was a key factor following the club's 2-2 draw against Rigas FS in their UEFA Europa League campaign.
The Turkish champions, despite going ahead by two goals, were unable to maintain their advantage, allowing their Latvian hosts to level the score and share the points at the end of the final whistle.
Osimhen was sidelined due to a serious injury sustained in their thrilling 3-3 encounter against Kasimpasa the previous weekend.
The 25-year-old Nigeria forward, who has been an important figure to Galatasaray’s attacking strength since his arrival, was forced to exit that match early, leaving the team without his critical contributions for the upcoming weeks.
Galatasaray missed Osimhen's universal threat
While Mauro Icardi stepped up and displayed more fluidity during the match, Buruk admitted that he expected more, even from the substitutes who entered later in the game.
In his post-match remarks on the club's official platform, Buruk expressed his disappointment over Osimhen's injury, emphasising the unique opportunities the striker affords on the pitch.
“Of course, we can have shortcomings here. Victor Osimhen was not there because he was injured. With him, you can find more solutions in such matches,” he stated.
The team, despite possessing high-calibre talents, struggled to convert chances into goals.
Although Galatasaray enjoyed moments of possession and several opportunities to reclaim the lead, they ultimately fell short, leading to a disappointing draw that showed how much they miss the Nigerian international.
