Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has revealed the secret behind Victor Osimhen's potential goal surge this season. The team maintained its league leadership with a 3-2 victory over Göztepe at RAMS Park on Saturday.
Osimhen scored one goal and provided one assist in the match. The star forward converted a penalty to make it 3-1 and also assisted Gabriel Sara's goal. Earning an 8.8 FotMob rating and the Man of the Match award, Osimhen took eight shots, created four chances, and had 40 touches. According to a report by Soccernet.ng, the Nigerian has started the season with five goals and three assists in three appearances.
What did Okan Buruk say?
Okan Buruk highlighted his team's attacking output after the win. "We have scored nine goals in three games. That is an average of three goals per game," he said. Buruk stated that the best part of the game was from the 45th minute until they made it 3-2. "I think we played that period very well," he added.
The manager said Osimhen is receiving the ball in better positions and with more service compared to last season. He believes this could sharply increase the striker's goal numbers. Buruk noted, "We were still able to make transitions and created many chances. We also had a goal ruled out."
What happened in the match?
Göztepe took an early lead through Novatus Miroshi in the 16th minute. Davinson Sánchez leveled the score in the 33rd minute. Osimhen took over in the second half. His assist to Sara made it 2-1 in the 55th minute. Osimhen then converted a penalty in the 63rd minute to extend the lead to 3-1. Juan Santos pulled one back just two minutes later to make it 3-2, but Göztepe could not find an equalizer.
A headed goal by Osimhen from a Roland Sallai cross in the 67th minute was disallowed for a marginal offside. In stoppage time, Georgian goalkeeper Luka Gugeshashvili saved another Osimhen shot. With this win, Galatasaray stays top of the Süper Lig with 7 points. As visible on the standings page, their record is 2 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses.
Where does Osimhen stand in the Süper Lig scoring race?
Victor Osimhen missed out on the Golden Boot last season, finishing third behind joint-top scorers Paul Onuachu and Eldor Shomurodov. But his performance in the first three games this season signals his intent to reclaim the crown. The league features other high-profile forwards like Mohamed Salah, Dušan Vlahović, Romelu Lukaku, and Mason Greenwood.
Osimhen's stats back his claim. Against Göztepe, he won 80% of his aerial duels, completed his only dribble attempt, and made 21 accurate passes out of 25 attempts. With 40 touches, he was the focal point of the attack. More detailed data is available on the team's stats page.
What is the team's overall situation?
Galatasaray has started the season with a goal flurry. They have scored 9 goals and conceded 4 in three league matches, resulting in a +5 goal difference. The injury situation requires attention, with Rafael Leão currently on the injuries list. Their next fixture is at home against 5th-placed Rizespor on December 6, 2026. Preparations for that match can be followed on the fixtures page.
