We can beat them — Osimhen hungry for Man City clash after Champions League return

Victor Osimhen, fresh from a successful but bruising 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where he earned a bronze medal and a spot in the Team of the Tournament, silenced injury concerns by playing the full 90 minutes at home against Atletico Madrid.

Despite an ankle issue that forced him to miss the AFCON third-place playoff just days ago, the 27-year-old looked sharp as the Turkish champions held Diego Simeone’s side at home to set up a must-win clash against Manchester City next week.

Atletico Madrid struck early through Giuliano Simeone, who broke the deadlock in the fourth minute.

However, Galatasaray found an equalizer in the 20th minute when a dangerous cross from Roland Sallai was deflected into his own net by Marcos Llorente.

While the Spanish side enjoyed more of the possession, Osimhen was a constant threat, nearly snatching a winner in a contest he described as a "50-50" battle. Reflecting on his return to Istanbul, the striker admitted he missed the atmosphere.

“Of course, I miss everyone so much, even the fans. We knew we'd play against a strong opponent before the game,” Osimhen told the club's official website.

“I congratulate my teammates; in a 90-minute battle against a tough team like this, we did a good job... I'm happy with our performance.”

The draw leaves Galatasaray with a mountain to climb. To guarantee a spot in the Champions League play-offs, they must now secure a result against Manchester City in their final group phase game on January 28.

Osimhen, who scored six goals in four UCL matches before his AFCON departure, remains defiant about their chances against the reigning English champions.

“Manchester City is one of the world's best teams... It won't be easy, but I trust my team. I'm looking at it positively, and we can get something out of there. Let's play a good game as we played against Atletico, that's the most important.”