Victor Osimhen’s Champions League campaign ended in frustration as Galatasaray suffered a heavy defeat at Anfield, falling to a dominant Liverpool side.

Despite carrying a 1-0 lead from the first leg, the Turkish giants’ plans crumbled early when Osimhen suffered a hand injury following a challenge by Ibrahima Konaté, Footballrover reports.

Victor Osimhen Injury Derails Galatasaray Champions League Hopes

Although the Super Eagles star attempted to play through the pain, his lack of mobility stifled the Lions’ attack, and he was forced to exit the game at halftime.

“In the first half of our away match against Liverpool in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg, our player Victor Osimhen took a blow to his arm and completed the first half, but following checks at halftime, he was not played in the second half due to the risk of a fracture in his arm,” the club revealed.

Manager Okan Buruk criticised the officiating for allowing physical challenges to go unpunished, noting that Osimhen’s exit stripped the team of its attacking identity.

In his absence, Liverpool surged. Goals from Szoboszlai, Ekitike, Gravenberch, and a milestone 50th European goal for Mohamed Salah secured a comfortable victory.

While goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir saved a Salah penalty, Galatasaray ultimately collapsed without their talismanic forward.

Liverpool Punish the Turkish Side as Salah Hits European Milestone

Buruk admitted his side lost their courage and rhythm, while Liverpool’s clinical performance earned them a quarter-final spot against PSG.

“But our opponent deserved to win the match much more than us. There were unfortunate events; our start to the game, Osimhen’s injury, our inability to make our presence felt during the game, and the confidence we gave to our opponent…

“They played with more confidence, while we lost ours. Our fans always expect a much more courageous Galatasaray, but none of our pre-match plans worked on the field. Injuries and the wrong decisions we made during the game had an impact.

“My players put in a great deal of effort, and I respect their efforts. You congratulated us, Galatasaray, and our club for being here; however, I am saddened by this defeat today.”

For Osimhen, a stellar tournament run ended on an uncharacteristically quiet and painful note and will now face surgery.

“After the match, under the supervision of our medical team, examinations at the hospital revealed a fracture in our player’s right forearm, and it was casted. A decision regarding surgery will be made in the coming days following further evaluations,” the club added.

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Last Updated on March 19, 2026 6:15 am by footballrover