Champions League: Victor Osimhen returns against Barça on October 13, following a one-month absence
Victor Osimhen is back just when Galatasaray needed him most. The 27-year-old Nigerian is in the Istanbul club's probable lineup to host FC Barcelona on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. (Paris time) at RAMS Park, on Matchday 2 of the Champions League phase, according to BeFoot.
The striker suffered an adductor injury in early September 2026 and had not played for about a month, notably missing his club's first European outing of the season. The medical staff had reported a "marked reduction in pain," AfricaFootUnited reported, ahead of a return to the pitch in the 3-1 win against Kasımpaşa.
Galatasaray already with their backs against the wall
The Turkish club failed to take a single point on the opening matchday, falling 3-1 to Sporting CP. Barça, meanwhile, arrive in full stride: a 5-1 win over Feyenoord in their European debut, a five-point lead at the top of La Liga, and 39 goals scored in nine matches across all competitions, according to BeFoot.
In Galatasaray's probable eleven, Osimhen is expected to be supported by Portugal's Rafael Leão and attacking midfielder Akgün. Ivorian Wilfried Singo remains unavailable, sidelined by injury alongside goalkeeper Günay Güvenç. On the Catalan side, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen are out.
Nine matches, several Africans on duty
The Istanbul clash is part of a busy matchday: nine fixtures were scheduled for this October 13, 2026, including Arsenal vs. Lille and Atlético Madrid vs. Manchester United at 9:00 p.m., Inter vs. Club Brugge, Villarreal vs. Napoli, RB Leipzig vs. PSV, Viking vs. Bayern Munich, as well as Lens vs. Sporting CP and Sabah vs. Slavia Prague at 6:45 p.m.
In Madrid, Manchester United arrive with Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo, who scored in the league draw against Tottenham, according to the press review by L'Attaquant. Manchester City vs. PSG and AS Roma vs. Real Madrid are scheduled for October 14, 2026.
For Osimhen, the stakes are immediate. A second European stumble would seriously complicate Galatasaray's path to the rest of the competition, and it is on the Nigerian that the club is pinning a large share of its attacking hopes. The pitch will tell if his return was enough.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.