Galatasaray's performance in European competitions suffers a significant drop when star striker Victor Osimhen is unavailable. Data compiled by Fotomac reveals the Turkish champions have failed to win any European match in which the Nigerian forward did not play.
The pattern was evident last season in the Europa League. In the five matches Osimhen missed, against RFS, Malmö, Union Saint-Gilloise, Eintracht Frankfurt, and most recently Sporting CP, Galatasaray managed only three draws and two defeats. In contrast, in the AZ Alkmaar match where he started, Osimhen scored the team's only goal in a 1-1 draw.
DECLINING ATTACKING THREAT
Analysis shows the team's effectiveness in the opponent's penalty area also diminishes noticeably without Osimhen. The striker's physical presence, hold-up play, and goal threat are key weapons against disciplined European defences. This dependency becomes especially clear when facing tight defensive setups.
The team currently leads the Süper Lig with 10 points, and their form in the last five matches reads LWWWD. After a 3-1 loss to Sporting CP, Galatasaray now turn their focus back to the domestic league. Their next fixture is at home against 11th-placed Çaykur Rizespor on December 6th. Having scored 12 goals so far this season, the yellow-reds aim to translate that firepower to Europe with Osimhen's consistent availability.
