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Galatasaray’s preparations for their high-stakes UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg against Liverpool on Tuesday have been overshadowed by significant disciplinary concerns, Footynaija reports.
The Turkish champions host Arne Slot’s side at Rams Park in Istanbul, with the tie kicking off under the guidance of Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Central to the tension is star forward Victor Osimhen, whose explosive form has propelled Galatasaray this season.
The Nigerian has netted seven goals in the competition, placing him just one shy of Burak Yılmaz’s record for the most strikes by a Turkish club player in a single campaign, set back in 2012-13.
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— MatchdayStats (@MatchdayStatsHQ) March 5, 2026
• Luis Díaz — Bayern Munich — 19
• João Pedro — Chelsea — 17 goals
• Victor Osimhen — Galatasaray — 17 goals
• Hugo Ekitiké — Liverpool — 16 goals
•… pic.twitter.com/HrYHYZ8eZw
Yet Osimhen enters the match on a knife-edge: he has accumulated two yellow cards already, from encounters with Juventus and Atletico Madrid, and another booking would trigger a one-match ban under UEFA rules, ruling him out of the crucial return fixture at Anfield on March 18.
UEFA regulations stipulate that a player faces suspension for the subsequent game after three cautions in the Champions League (provided no red card is involved), with further bans on every odd-numbered yellow thereafter.
This risk extends beyond Osimhen; six other Galatasaray players – goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, forward Roland Sallai, and Noa Lang (whose prior bookings came at Napoli) – also sit on two yellows each. Even head coach Okan Buruk risks a touchline absence in England if cautioned.
Liverpool arrive with fewer worries, though Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones could miss the second leg if booked. The English side boast a stronger league-phase record, securing third place with six victories and two losses, earning direct entry to the knockout rounds.
Galatasaray, finishing 20th, advanced via a dramatic play-off aggregate win over Juventus.
The teams have history this season: Galatasaray claimed a 1-0 victory in the league phase at home, courtesy of Osimhen’s early penalty.
Victor Osimhen’in Tottenham ve Liverpool’a attığı goller pic.twitter.com/aRjQGvNY3N
— Winner Galatasaray (@winner_gsaray_) February 27, 2026
Osimhen also has prior experience at Anfield, featuring in Napoli’s 2-0 defeat there in 2022, though his side had earlier triumphed 4-1 against the Reds.
With a fully fit squad otherwise available, barring a few unregistered players, Buruk’s men will aim to leverage home advantage and Osimhen’s threat, despite the looming suspension shadows that could reshape the tie’s outcome.
