Galatasaray’s Europa League campaign came to a disappointing end despite Victor Osimhen finding the net with a stunning strike.

The Nigerian forward notched his 20th goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to overturn their first-leg deficit, as AZ Alkmaar sealed their place in the next round with a 6-3 aggregate victory, Footballrover reports.

Victor Osimhen’s return sparks hope, but AZ Alkmaar dominate

Missing the first leg due to suspension, Osimhen’s return was seen as a major boost for Galatasaray, who needed a miracle after a crushing 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.

However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as AZ Alkmaar took control early.

Seiya Maikuma opened the scoring, putting the visitors ahead before Denso Kasius doubled their advantage.

The two-goal deficit left Galatasaray with a mountain to climb, needing at least five goals to progress.

Osimhen hits 20th goal, but Galatasaray fall short

Osimhen reignited some hope in the 56th minute, latching onto a well-worked move involving Lucas Torreira to fire home.

Roland Sallai then made it 2-2 in the 70th minute, but it was too little, too late for the Turkish giants.

Despite their efforts, Galatasaray failed to overcome the damage from the first leg, bowing out with a 6-3 aggregate defeat.

Osimhen now boasts 20 goals and five assists in 25 games this season, but his impressive form wasn’t enough to keep his side in the competition.

With their European dreams shattered, Galatasaray must now shift their focus back to domestic competitions as Osimhen continues to lead their attacking charge.

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Last Updated on February 20, 2025 9:17 pm by footballrover