Adeyemi credits Barcelona defence for keeping Osimhen quiet in Galatasaray win

Karim Adeyemi has praised Barcelona’s defensive performance after Victor Osimhen struggled to make an impact in their 4-1 Champions League victory over Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The two teams met at Rams Park on Tuesday for their second match of the competition, with Barcelona coming from behind to maintain their perfect start. Galatasaray, by contrast, are still without a win after two games.

Aleksey Bakaratov put the hosts ahead, before Galatasaray appeared to double their lead when Osimhen’s header was turned into the net by Baris Alper Yilmaz. The goal was disallowed, however, after Baris Alper Yilmaz was judged to have been offside.

Barcelona responded before the interval, with Joao Cancelo equalising shortly before half-time. Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon and Adeyemi then scored in the second half to complete a convincing victory for the visitors.

Adeyemi came off the bench and found the net six minutes later, while Osimhen endured a frustrating evening as Galatasaray struggled to create clear opportunities. The Nigerian forward had been expected to pose a significant threat but was kept largely quiet by Barcelona’s defence.

Speaking exclusively to Soccernet.ng, Adeyemi was asked about facing a striker of Osimhen’s quality and how Barcelona had managed to restrict him. The German forward acknowledged the Nigerian’s ability but attributed his limited influence to the work of the team’s defence.

Galatasaray had also lost their opening Champions League match, going down 3-1 to Sporting CP last month. Barcelona’s latest result, meanwhile, gave them two wins from two games and nine goals in the competition.

Barcelona maintain perfect start

The victory extended Barcelona’s winning run to 10 matches in all competitions this season. Adeyemi, who joined the club in the summer from Borussia Dortmund, said the comeback reflected the winning mentality within the squad.

He also explained that the team’s performances showed their determination to compete for every available trophy. Barcelona are now aiming to sustain their strong start as they pursue their first Champions League title since 2015.

Their next match in the competition will be against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain on October 20. That fixture will provide a more difficult test, with Barcelona seeking to preserve their momentum and continue their challenge for European success.