Football analyst Emre Bol has offered a blunt prediction about the outcome of the upcoming two-legged UEFA Champions League contest between Galatasaray and Liverpool, Footynaija reports.
In their first appearance at this stage of the competition in more than a decade, the Turkish champions will meet Liverpool FC in the round of 16. While the tie promises excitement, many observers believe the English side, three-time European champions, hold the upper hand.
Bol believes the coming weeks could be particularly difficult for Galatasaray. The Istanbul side face a punishing schedule that includes domestic derbies with Beşiktaş JK and İstanbul Başakşehir FK alongside the two Champions League clashes.
“I don’t think Beşiktaş will lose (to Galatasaray),” Bol predicted.
“They (Galatasaray) will lose both of their matches against Liverpool. The Başakşehir match will also end in a draw.”
Yet despite forecasting a difficult run, Bol acknowledged that the presence of Barcelona-linked Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen could still give Galatasaray a glimmer of hope.
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The Super Eagles striker has been central to the club’s European campaign this season, scoring seven goals in the Champions League. That tally already surpasses Liverpool’s leading scorer in the competition, Hugo Ekitiké, who has found the net twice.
Victor Osimhen has 6️⃣6️⃣ goal involvements in 65 games for Galatasaray 😱🦅🇹🇷
A truly brilliant player 👏 pic.twitter.com/vbkImrNoiC
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) February 26, 2026
Bol believes that difference in attacking impact could be decisive if Galatasaray are to cause an upset.
“Of course I would like them to continue in the Champions League, but it’s difficult,” he said. “I think Galatasaray’s striker and goalkeeper are better than Liverpool’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if Galatasaray pulled off a surprise, and I hope they do.”
Galatasaray have already shown they can trouble Europe’s elite this season. The Super Lig champions recorded impressive victories against former continental winners including AFC Ajax and Juventus FC, with Osimhen scoring in each match, including a hat-trick against Ajax.
Those results suggest the Istanbul side are capable of competing at the highest level. But against Liverpool, they will once again have to prove that their remarkable European journey still has another chapter to write.
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