Galatasaray took control of the Europa League Group A standings on Thursday, with Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen’s brilliance propelling them to a 3-2 victory over Tottenham in Istanbul.
The win sees the Turkish champions move to the top of the table, all but securing a spot in the knock-out play-off round. Meanwhile, Tottenham fell to fifth place, losing their unbeaten record.
The game began with a bang, as Yunus Akgun launched a stunning long-range volley into the top corner in the sixth minute, giving Galatasaray an early lead. However, Spurs quickly responded, equalizing just 12 minutes later when 18-year-old striker Will Lankshear capitalized on a cross from Brennan Johnson to mark his second first-team appearance with a goal.
Just as Tottenham seemed to be settling into the game, Osimhen took over. The Nigerian star put Galatasaray back in the lead in the 31st minute, then doubled his tally just eight minutes later with a deft volley from Dries Mertens’ cross, giving the Turkish side a two-goal cushion at halftime. Osimhen now boasts six goals in eight appearances for Galatasaray, where he’s on loan from Napoli.
Despite several missed chances to extend their lead, Galatasaray held strong as Spurs’ comeback hopes were dashed when Lankshear received a red card for two yellow-card offenses in quick succession during the second half. Tottenham managed to pull one back through Dominic Solanke in the 69th minute, but Galatasaray comfortably saw out the remaining time to secure the win.
In other Group A matches, Eintracht Frankfurt moved into second place, narrowly trailing Galatasaray on goals scored, after Omar Marmoush’s precise free-kick in the second half clinched a 1-0 victory over Slavia Prague. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao climbed to third, also separated by goal difference, with a thrilling 2-1 comeback win at Ludogorets, thanks to quick goals from Inaki Williams and Nico Serrano.
Elsewhere, Roma’s struggles continued with a 1-1 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. Kevin Mac Allister’s late goal for the hosts ensured a valuable second point in the competition, further denting Roma’s Europa League campaign.
As Galatasaray pushes forward with a strong showing, fans are eyeing a promising run in the Europa League, driven by Osimhen’s outstanding performances on the European stage.
