Victor Osimhen has issued a confident declaration ahead of Galatasaray’s critical UEFA Champions League encounter with Juventus on Wednesday night. The Nigerian striker asserts that the Turkish champions have arrived in Turin with a clear intent to challenge their Italian adversaries and secure their qualification for the next round of the competition. Galatasaray holds a significant advantage, visiting the Allianz Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie after a dominant 5-2 victory in Istanbul during the first leg. Osimhen was instrumental in that win, contributing two assists and consistently disrupting the Juventus defense.

Despite former Italy coach Vincenzo Montella expressing belief in a Juventus comeback, Osimhen insists Galatasaray is focused on building upon their first-leg success rather than merely defending their lead. “I think tomorrow’s match will be quite difficult,” Osimhen stated during the pre-match press conference. “We are ready for it, we have completed our preparations and we are waiting for our opponent. As in the first match, in the second match we will aim not only to protect the score we achieved, but also to play our own game by attacking.” Osimhen also provided an update on his fitness, confirming his readiness to start after an injury scare that saw him miss Galatasaray’s recent league game against Konyaspor. He credited the club’s medical staff for his rapid recovery, stating, “First of all, I want to thank our medical team. They gave me tremendous support. I can say that I recovered very quickly thanks to their care and help.”

The 27-year-old has enjoyed an exceptional Champions League campaign to date, registering six goals and two assists, with only four players having scored more in this season’s competition. Osimhen is also solidifying his legacy in Nigerian football, having become the country’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League with 15 goals overall, a record he hopes to extend as Galatasaray seeks a spot in the round of 16.

For Juventus, the task is formidable. The Italian side must secure a win by three goals to force penalties or by four goals to advance directly, a scenario that would necessitate neutralizing Osimhen. Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly acknowledged Osimhen’s exceptional quality but emphasized that his team would adopt a different strategy against the striker and in the match overall. At the pre-match press conference, Kelly remarked, “Osimhen is an extraordinary player. He showed that in the first match as well. We won’t give him the same opportunities this time. We have to put our whole heart out on the pitch.”

Far from being intimidated, Osimhen appears energized by Juventus’s determination to stop him. The former Napoli striker views defensive attention as an inherent aspect of his role as a leading forward and asserts that he thrives in physical confrontations. “A defender trying to stop a striker like Osimhen will inevitably have concerns,” Osimhen commented. “I always try to be an aggressive striker on the court, to disrupt the defense and put the opponent in a difficult situation; that’s my job.”

Osimhen was also quick to underscore that Galatasaray’s offensive threat extends beyond just one player. With formidable attackers such as Mauro Icardi and Noa Lang at their disposal, he believes Juventus cannot afford to focus solely on him. “But I’m not alone here,” the Nigeria forward added. “There’s Barış, there’s Noa Lang, and I have very valuable teammates supporting me behind me. So it wouldn’t be right for them to focus only on me. As Galatasaray, we have many players who can challenge defenses. I think tomorrow’s match will be a battle, almost a war. We will fight until the last drop of sweat on the court, and we will be the side that wants to win. Hopefully, we will be the winning side at the end of this long struggle.”

History offers some encouragement for the visitors, as Galatasaray has recorded only one loss in three previous matches played on Juventus soil, securing two draws. Osimhen himself boasts a strong personal record against the Italian club, having won six of eight meetings while contributing two goals and four assists against them.