Galatasaray achieved a historic night in their European campaign, securing a stunning 5-2 victory over Italian giants Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off. Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen played a pivotal role in this commanding win, contributing two crucial assists and consistently unsettling the Italian defense with his sharp movement and calm passing, despite not scoring himself.

The match at Rams Park was a thrilling affair. Galatasaray initially took the lead through Gabriel Sara after a defensive error. However, Juventus quickly responded, with Teun Koopmeiners scoring twice before halftime, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage. The second half, however, saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Noa Lang tapped in the equalizer from close range, igniting the home crowd, and Davinson Sanchez powered home a header to put Galatasaray back in front. Juventus' situation worsened when substitute Juan Cabal was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving them with ten men. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage and defensive lapses, Osimhen then set up Lang for his second goal, making it 4-2. He followed this with another assist late in the game, teeing up Sacha Boey to seal the emphatic 5-2 victory. Osimhen's tireless work rate and predatory instinct were on full display, forcing mistakes from defenders and creating opportunities, marking his second consecutive match with two assists, a career first.

This victory was not just a significant result but also a record-breaking occasion for Galatasaray. No team had ever scored five goals against Juventus in a Champions League match prior to this. Galatasaray also made history as the first Turkish club to score five goals in a single Champions League game and the first from the country to achieve this against an Italian side in European competition. Individually, Noa Lang became the first Galatasaray player to score twice on his Champions League debut, while midfielder Gabriel Sara joined an elite group by both scoring and assisting in a knockout match, a feat previously only accomplished by Wesley Sneijder for the club. Statistics underscored Galatasaray's dominance, as they created more big chances, posted a higher expected goals figure, and spent more time in Juventus’ penalty area than any team had managed against them this season.

Ahead of this crucial encounter, Osimhen had expressed immense confidence in his abilities, stating that he considers himself among the world's best strikers. The 27-year-old forward, who has contributed over 50 goals since joining Galatasaray two years ago, acknowledged the magnitude of facing a top-level club like Juventus. The game also marked a reunion with his former coach, Luciano Spalletti, under whom Osimhen flourished at Napoli, leading them to a historic Scudetto. Osimhen highly respects Spalletti, crediting him with shaping him both as a man and a footballer. Despite not getting on the scoresheet against Juventus, Osimhen's creative display and overall impact validated his belief in his unique quality and ability to help his team win games, even against a defensively strong opponent.

Looking ahead, Galatasaray now travels to Turin for the return leg, holding a commanding lead. They need to avoid a loss by a three-goal margin to progress to the Champions League last 16. Osimhen's experience of playing four years in Italy could prove beneficial in the decisive fixture. Furthermore, the Nigerian striker is also on the cusp of setting a new club record for most goals in a single Champions League campaign. With six goals in six appearances this season, he is just two shy of equalling Burak Yilmaz's record of eight goals (set in 2012/13) and three to surpass it. His domestic form has also been strong, with nine goals in 16 league outings this term, adding to the anticipation for his performance in the upcoming European clash.