Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro has admitted that stopping Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will be a difficult task as the French club prepare to face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
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The Brazilian centre-back expects a tough contest against the Super Eagles forward when both sides meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday, October 21, with both teams seeking their first points of the league-phase campaign.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Alexsandro described his expected duel with Osimhen as a personal battle, while expressing confidence in his ability to handle the challenge.
“Yes, I’ll be playing against Osimhen. It’s going to be a tough match for us. It will be a bit of a battle between the two of us,” he said, as reported by Football In Nigeria.
The defender also acknowledged Galatasaray’s attacking threat, stressing that Lille would need to work together to contain their opponents rather than depend on individual efforts.
The encounter will also mark Osimhen’s return to Lille, where he spent the 2019/20 season before moving to Napoli. The Nigerian scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the French side during that campaign.
Osimhen has since established himself as one of Nigeria’s leading attacking players, with his pace, physical strength and movement making him a major threat to opposing defences.
For Lille, keeping the striker quiet will be an important part of their effort to secure a positive result in front of their home supporters.
Both teams enter the fixture under pressure to collect points after losing their opening two Champions League matches. The outcome could therefore prove important to their hopes of progressing in the competition.
With Alexsandro preparing for a demanding defensive assignment and Osimhen looking to make an impact on his return to familiar surroundings, their individual contest will be one of the key battles to watch.
