AFCON 2025
The UEFA Champions League is back on our screens, and it is time for the round of sixteen fixture proper, with Galatasaray v Liverpool being one of the matches to look forward to, given the last meeting between both sides, and the Lions qualified for the last eight.
On paper, it looks like a “David and Goliath” match given Liverpool’s pedigree in the competition and squad quality, with the likes of Mohammed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Coady Gakpo, among others.
However, Galatasaray go into the match high on confidence, having knocked out Juventus in the round of 16 playoffs and having won their recent league match against the Reds, courtesy of Victor Osimehn’s goal.
The Super Eagles striker said he wouldn’t mind playing Liverpool again after the victory over Juventus, but admitted that the tie will be much more difficult than their first meeting.
Galatasaray, with Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Baris Yilmaz, and Gabriel Sara among others, makes the face-off against Liverpool seemingly even when both teams stepped out at the Rams Park in Istanbul on Tuesday might for the first leg.
This post examines three reasons why Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray can prevail over Liverpool again.
3 reasons why Osimhen’s Galatasaray can beat Liverpool again!
- Osimhen’s proven scoring threat against Liverpool:
The Super Eagles striker was the hero in the previous meeting, converting a first-half penalty to secure the win, and he’s in red-hot form after netting the decisive goal in Galatasaray’s recent 1-0 derby victory over Besiktas in the intercontinental derby. Osimhen’s pace, power, and clinical finishing could exploit Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities once more. The likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have to be at their best on Tuesday night to stand a chance of taming the Nigerian striker. Osimhen is Galatasaray’s top scorer in the competition with seven goals and is on the verge of making history as the player with the most goals scored in a single season in the competition.
- Intimidating Rams Park atmosphere:
The raucous environment at RAMS Park has already proven to be a nightmare for Liverpool, contributing to their sloppy and uninspired performance in the 1-0 league-phase loss back in September 2025. This “hellish” crowd can disrupt even the best teams and give Galatasaray a massive edge in knocking the Reds off their game early.
- Better head-to-head record
Galatasaray boasts of a strong record at home against English teams at home, The Lions have only lost one of their last nine European home games against English clubs after defaeting Liverpool 1-0 in the league phase this season (W5, D3), with that being the fourth time in five previous UCL H2Hs that the Reds have failed to beat the Lions (D2, L2).
