Victor Osimhen was forced off at halftime due to injury, with Okan Buruk confirming the striker could not continue as Galatasaray were eliminated by Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League.
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“Osimhen is in pain,” Buruk said after the game. “It happened at the beginning of the match; we tried to keep him on the pitch, but his pain increased, so we had to substitute him at halftime.”
Galatasaray had arrived at Anfield with a slim 1-0 advantage from the first leg, but their plans were disrupted early when Osimhen was caught from behind by Ibrahima Konaté.
Although he battled on, the Nigerian forward was clearly struggling and failed to influence proceedings before being withdrawn.
Buruk also expressed frustration with the officiating, suggesting the challenge that led to Osimhen’s injury went unpunished.
“Looking at Osimhen’s position, we saw that Konaté was able to commit these fouls very easily,” he added. “While we were expecting the best referee in the world, perhaps one of the worst referees officiated the game.”
Liverpool took full advantage after the break, asserting their dominance with a clinical display. Dominik Szoboszlai had already opened the scoring before halftime, before further goals from Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch put the tie beyond reach.
Mohamed Salah capped the emphatic victory with his 50th Champions League goal, sealing a dominant night for the hosts.
Reflecting on the defeat, Buruk admitted Liverpool deserved to progress.
“Our opponent deserved to win much more than us,” he said. “There were unfortunate events—our start to the game, Osimhen’s injury, and our inability to make our presence felt. They played with more confidence, while we lost ours.”
Osimhen’s absence proved decisive, as Galatasaray lost their attacking edge and composure, allowing Liverpool to dictate the tempo. The Nigerian striker, who had been in fine form with seven goals and three assists in the competition, endured a frustrating outing as injury cut short his involvement.
Liverpool now advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face FC Barcelona, while Galatasaray turn their focus back to domestic competitions following their European exit.
