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Victor Osimhen is expected to return to Galatasaray after the international break and could make his first UEFA Champions League appearance of the season against Barcelona, giving coach Okan Buruk a major attacking option for the second matchweek.
The Nigerian striker missed Galatasaray's opening Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon but is being lined up for a place in the starting XI against Barcelona.
Osimhen comes into the match with a strong recent record in Europe's leading club competition. Last season, he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 10 Champions League appearances.
Across his career, the 26-year-old has recorded 16 goals and four assists in 27 matches in the competition.
He also has previous experience against Barcelona, having faced the Spanish side twice in the Champions League while playing for Napoli. Osimhen scored against Barcelona during the 2023-24 season.
Osimhen had started the domestic season strongly, scoring six goals in Galatasaray's opening four Super Lig matches before picking up an injury against Basaksehir.
Galatasaray went on to lose two of its next three competitive matches without him, falling 3-1 to Sporting and 4-0 to Trabzonspor, while also struggling in attack during his absence.
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His expected return therefore comes ahead of one of Galatasaray's most important early-season European fixtures, with Buruk preparing to bring the striker back into the lineup against Barcelona.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are monitoring Raphinha after the Brazilian international suffered an injury while on national-team duty.
Initial examinations reportedly indicated that the problem was not serious, although swelling was detected in his right leg. His recovery period is expected to take around 10 days.
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