Osimhen fitness the key as Galatasaray host unbeaten Barcelona

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is expected to start for Galatasaray against Barcelona in Istanbul on 13 October 2026, but his ability to last the full match could decide the Champions League league-phase contest.

Turkish champions Galatasaray welcome Spanish champions Barcelona to RAMS Park knowing they need a result after losing their opening league-phase fixture 3-1 at Sporting. Barcelona, meanwhile, arrive with nine wins from nine matches in all competitions and three points already secured.

Osimhen has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first five league appearances for Galatasaray, who lead the Super Lig after seven rounds. However, he has played only 14 minutes since suffering an adductor strain against Basaksehir on 4 September.

His substitute appearance against Kasımpasa on 9 October was his only action since the injury. Galatasaray won that match 3-1 despite Lucas Torreira being sent off in the 65th minute, with Osimhen supplying an assist from the bench. He has scored six of the club’s 16 Super Lig goals this season.

Galatasaray have won three and lost two of their past five competitive matches, scoring eight goals and conceding 10. They beat Basaksehir 3-2, Kocaelispor 1-0 and Kasımpasa 3-1, but lost 3-1 at Sporting on 9 September and 4-0 at Trabzonspor on 19 September. Osimhen missed both defeats.

Barcelona have won their past five games, scoring 22 times and conceding six. Their run includes a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, a 4-2 win at Levante, a 7-2 success against Racing Santander, a 3-1 victory at Sevilla and a 3-0 win over Getafe last weekend.

They have scored 17 goals and conceded three in four away matches this season, although none of those fixtures came in the Champions League. Galatasaray have scored nine and conceded five in four home games in all competitions.

Head-to-head record

Barcelona have won six of the clubs’ 10 meetings, while Galatasaray have won one and three have ended level. Galatasaray’s only victory came on 23 November 1994, when they won 2-1. Barcelona won the most recent encounter 2-1 in the second leg of their 2022 Europa League round-of-16 tie in Istanbul, having drawn the first leg 0-0.

In Istanbul, Galatasaray have beaten Barcelona once, drawn once and lost three times. Those meetings offer limited guidance, however, as Okan Buruk was appointed Galatasaray manager in June 2022 and Hansi Flick took charge of Barcelona in May 2024.

Key battles and team news

Pau Cubarsi has been confirmed as a starter after being rested against Getafe and is expected to partner Gerard Martin in central defence. The Barcelona defender has won 72.7% of his aerial duels and 70.6% of all his duels in LaLiga this season.

Barcelona have conceded only eight goals in nine matches, meaning Galatasaray may have few opportunities. Osimhen’s fitness, rather than his finishing, is the main uncertainty. Deniz Gul, his alternative, was booked in the opening league-phase match.

Lamine Yamal, who has scored eight goals this season – seven in LaLiga and one in the Champions League – is likely to face Galatasaray left-back Ismail Jakobs. Jakobs was booked against Sporting, while Yunus Akgun’s willingness to track back could determine how much space Yamal is given.

Galatasaray are without Wilfried Singo, who has a hamstring injury, and goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc, who has a partial muscle tear. Torreira and Lesley Ugochukwu are suspended in the Super Lig but available in UEFA competition.

Galatasaray’s predicted XI is: Cakır; Sallai, Bardakcı, Sanchez, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Sane, Sara, Akgun; Osimhen.

Barcelona will be without leading scorer Raphinha, who has a thigh problem, and Frenkie de Jong, who has a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Andreas Christensen is also injured with a thigh problem, while Roony Bardghji has a cruciate ligament injury.

Joan Garcia is expected in goal, with Gabriel Jesus likely to replace Raphinha. Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Jesus face competition from Jules Kounde, Fermin Lopez and Anthony Gordon respectively. Flick left Fermin Lopez, Pedri, Cancelo and Cubarsi out of the team against Getafe, making them likely starters here.

Barcelona’s predicted XI is: Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Olmo, Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Jesus, Adeyemi.

Osimhen and Nigeria

Osimhen made his senior Nigeria debut in June 2017 and had scored 35 goals for the Super Eagles by mid-January this year, two short of Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37.

A muscle injury ruled him out of Nigeria’s September qualifiers. The Super Eagles beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo on 25 September before losing 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Guinea-Bissau lead Group L with six points from two games, Nigeria have three, and the Super Eagles face Tanzania in a November double-header. Osimhen’s ability to withstand the demands of this match will provide the clearest indication yet of his readiness for those fixtures.