Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti has warned his players that they must work collectively to contain Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen when they face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Footynaija.com reports.
The French side welcome the Turkish champions to the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy for their Matchday 3 encounter, with both teams desperate for their first points in the league phase after losing their opening two matches.
Osimhen will be one of Galatasaray’s biggest threats, and Ancelotti has acknowledged the Nigerian’s ability to influence games, recalling his decisive role in Napoli’s Serie A title triumph in the 2022/23 season.
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“We stop him as a team. It doesn’t depend on one player; it always depends on the team,” Ancelotti was quoted as saying by French outlet Le Petit Lillois. “He’s a player who, in Naples, almost single-handedly won the Scudetto.
“We know his potential, we know we always have to be vigilant when attacking and when defending. We know they’re a team with a lot of individual quality, with players who have a lot of experience in this competition, who know it well. We’ll have to be vigilant.”
Osimhen returns to familiar territory
Wednesday’s encounter carries extra significance for Osimhen, who returns to the club where he made a major impression during the 2019/20 campaign.
The Nigerian scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for Lille before moving to Napoli in 2020, where he later helped the Italian side win their first Serie A title in 33 years.
His return comes after an injury setback that interrupted an impressive start to the current campaign with Galatasaray. Osimhen had recorded six goals and three assists in his opening six Turkish Super Lig appearances before the injury disrupted his rhythm.
The 27-year-old will be hoping to rediscover his scoring touch in Europe after failing to register a goal in Galatasaray’s 4-1 defeat to Barcelona in their previous Champions League outing.
Lille and Galatasaray seek European response
Both sides enter Wednesday’s fixture under pressure to get their campaigns moving after consecutive defeats in each of their first two opening fixtures.
Lille lost 3-2 at home to Real Betis before suffering a 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal, while Galatasaray were beaten 3-1 by Sporting CP and then lost 4-1 to Barcelona.
With both teams still searching for their first points, the contest offers an opportunity to revive their hopes of progressing in the competition.
For Osimhen, a strong performance against his former club would provide a timely opportunity to remind European audiences of his threat, while Ancelotti’s side will be determined to ensure the Nigerian forward does not dictate the outcome of the contest.
