Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk believes Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and Argentine forward Mauro Icardi can play together on a consistent basis after watching the pair combine to devastating effect in the Lions’ 5-1 thrashing of Eyuspor on Friday, Footynaija.com reports.
Buruk, who mostly sets up with a lone striker, opted to pair Osimhen and Icardi together in attack from the first whistle. This decision proved to be a masterstroke as Osimhen supplied a couple of assists while Icardi netted a stunning hat-trick.
Osimhen and Icardi combined to great effect for Galatasaray’s third with the Nigeria international doing well to win the ball back inside the opponents box before setting up his Argentine teammate.
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Speaking after the game, Buruk expressed satisfaction with the contributions of his star strikers, emphasizing that their combined display was proof that they could play together at the top end of the pitch for Galatasaray.
“Despite all the changes, everyone who came in was eager. Icardi’s 3 goals, Osimhen’s 2 assists… There are many positive things,” Buruk told the club’s official website.
“Today we played with two strikers. We used it in the Kocaelispor match, and people thought Osimhen and Icardi couldn’t play together. We tried it and got positive results.”
The win extended Galatasaray’s unbeaten run in the Turkish Super Lig to ten games and put them six points clear of a chasing pack led by Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce as they remain on course for a successful title defense.
Up next for the Super Lig champions is a big clash in Europe that will see them welcome Serie A giants Juventus to RAMS Park for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off match.
