League leaders Galatasaray strengthened their grip at the summit of the Turkish Süper Lig with a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Alanyaspor on Saturday, thanks largely to another decisive contribution from Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Footynaija reports.
The Istanbul side were forced to work for all three points in a contest that swung in momentum during a lively second half, but Osimhen’s influence ultimately proved decisive. The Super Eagles forward first turned provider before finishing the job himself, showing why he remains one of the most feared attackers in Turkish football this season.
Galatasaray had struggled to convert early possession into clear opportunities until the closing moments of the first half, when a flowing attacking move ended with Sacha Boey calmly finishing to give the hosts a narrow advantage at the interval. The goal rewarded sustained pressure but did little to discourage the visitors.
Alanyaspor responded quickly after the restart, drawing level when Steve Mounié rose highest to power home a header, briefly silencing the home crowd and injecting fresh tension into the contest. For a spell, the leaders looked unsettled as the visitors pressed for a potential upset.
The turning point arrived just before the hour mark. Osimhen attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick inside the penalty area, and although the effort did not find the net, the loose ball fell kindly for Lucas Torreira, who reacted sharply to restore Galatasaray’s lead. The Nigerian’s invention had once again created the opening.
Osimhen then crowned his performance late in the match. Capitalising on a costly error from goalkeeper Paulo Victor, who misplaced a pass while attempting to play out from the back, the striker intercepted possession, rounded the stranded keeper and calmly rolled the ball into an empty net to secure victory.
The result moves Galatasaray onto 58 points at the top of the table, keeping rivals Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor at arm’s length in the title race. Attention now shifts to the Turkish Cup, where both sides meet again on Tuesday, offering Alanyaspor an immediate chance for revenge and Galatasaray another opportunity to maintain their impressive momentum.
















