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Osimhen Strikes Against Old Club as Galatasaray Beat Lille 4-2

Victor Osimhen in a Galatasaray shirt holding a Champions League player of the match trophy
Victor Osimhen in Galatasaray colours with a Champions League player of the match award, pictured in September 2025 | Photo: Ottomanor / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Galatasaray went to northern France without a point in this season's Champions League and came home with a first win. They beat Lille 4-2, and the man who sealed it was a former Lille player, Victor Osimhen, finishing just past the hour against his former club.

It was Osimhen's first Champions League goal since February, and by BBC Sport's count the best-rated player on the night. For a side that had lost 4-1 at home to Barcelona last week, it was a welcome change of mood.

A first half that swung both ways

Galatasaray scored after only 66 seconds. Lille defender Alexsandro headed a clearance poorly, Yunus Akgun pounced and finished high into the net. Lille were level in the seventh minute through teenage winger Soriba Diaoune, who ran on to a through-ball from Alexsandro, rounded goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir and passed into the empty goal.

Midway through the half Galatasaray were awarded a penalty when Lille keeper Berke Ozer seemed to bring down Osimhen. VAR took a look and showed that Ozer had got the ball, so the decision was overturned. Diaoune, who is 19 and played in Lille's Youth League opener only last month, then scored his second of the night in the 39th minute with a reactive finish after a save.

Sloppy marking costs Lille

The lead lasted barely five minutes. A minute before the break Aleksey Batrakov headed in unmarked from Roland Sallai's whipped cross, and the marking from the home side was poor. It stayed poor after the restart. Seven minutes into the second half Lucas Torreira met a corner at the near post, and his header took a final touch off Ozer on its way in.

Then came Osimhen. A quick counter-attack ended with him finishing just past the hour mark, and the contest was effectively over.

What comes next

Lille have now lost both of their home Champions League games this season from winning positions, and they are still without a point. They travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt on 3 November at 20:00 GMT. Galatasaray host Stuttgart earlier that same day, with a 17:45 GMT kick-off, and will go in with some belief.

Match facts: Lille 2-4 Galatasaray, UEFA Champions League league phase. Lille goals: Soriba Diaoune (7th minute), Soriba Diaoune (39th minute). Galatasaray goals: Yunus Akgun (after 66 seconds), Aleksey Batrakov (a minute before half-time), Lucas Torreira (seven minutes into the second half), Victor Osimhen (just past the hour). Source: BBC Sport.

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