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Victor Osimhen struggled to be his usual dominant self in the Champions League exit to Barcelona last night. In this article, we try to make sense of his stuggle at Estadio Luis Companys (Montjuic).
Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker, faced a challenging match in the recent Champions League clash against Barcelona. Despite his efforts, Osimhen struggled to make a significant impact on the game. In this article, we delve into three key reasons behind his difficulties on the field.
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14:36 - 13.03.2024
‘Xavi gave me the details to try and stop Osimhen’ - Barcelona youngster explains how he caged Super Eagles star
Barcelona's rising star defender, Pau Cubarsi, showcased his defensive prowess, thwarting Napoli's lethal striker, Victor Osimhen, at every turn.
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08:28 - 13.03.2024
The numbers behind Osimhen's silent night against 17-year-old Barca teen Cubarsi
Barcelona and Pau Cubarsi proved to be too strong for Nigeria's Victor Osimhen and SSC Napoli in the Champions League.
He met his physical match
For all the pre and post-game remarks on Victor Osimhen’s battle with 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi, it was the 25-year-old Ronald Araujo who was tasked with keeping the imposing Nigerian at bay.
Araujo, a 6’2 physical specimen often deployed by Xavi as a man-marker in big games, made Osimhen his mission and he tailed the Nigerian’s every move.
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This made it difficult for the Nigerian, who often relies on his heightened athletic abilities to get the better of defenders, as the Uruguayan was up to the task.
He served as a decoy
Last night, Osimhen was saddled with the unglamorous responsibility of attracting Barcelona defenders to create space for his teammates to attack—a decoy.
This was evident in several instances in the game, most prominently Amir Rrahmani’s goal, which came as a result of Osimhen’s selfless work. The Nigerian’s vertical run was tracked by both Barcelona centre-backs, leaving a chasm at the edge of the 18-yard area for the Kosovan to attack.
Another example was in the 34th minute, when Giovanni Di Lorenzo forced Marc Andre Ter Stegen into a stunning save after he was left unmarked in the area as a result of Barcelona’s defenders occupying Osimhen, who made a run in the opposite direction.
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Those two instances stuck out the most from multiple. Osimhen’s thankless work last night does not reflect on the statistics platforms and can be easily missed by a less careful eye.
Lack of Support and Service from Midfield
Another significant issue that hindered Osimhen's performance was the lack of support and service from his midfield teammates. Throughout the game, Osimhen struggled to receive quality supply and link-up play from the midfielders, who failed to provide him with accurate passes and creative through balls.
As a result, Osimhen was isolated up front, often left chasing long balls and dealing with multiple defenders without adequate support to create scoring opportunities.
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12:41 - 13.03.2024
They didn't believe in me — Xavi defies critics as Barca knock out Osimhen's Napoli
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez believes his side silenced critics with their 3-1 win over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League.
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08:53 - 13.03.2024
UCL: Barca teen named man of the match after using Super Eagles' Osimhen to shine
Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi announced himself to the world with a solid display against Victor Osimhen and Napoli in the UCL.
08:28 - 13.03.2024
The numbers behind Osimhen's silent night against 17-year-old Barca teen Cubarsi
Barcelona and Pau Cubarsi proved to be too strong for Nigeria's Victor Osimhen and SSC Napoli in the Champions League.
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