Galatasaray 3-2 Genclerbirligi: 10-man Champions survive scare without injured Victor Osimhen

Ten-man Galatasaray survived a major scare in a thrilling 3-2 win over ten-man Genclerbirligi, managing to secure the victory without their injured star striker Victor Osimhen in the 2025/26 campaign.

Osimhen, who suffered a moderate hamstring strain with internal bleeding during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier playoff against DR Congo, was expectedly sidelined following recent medical scans.

The setback forced Galatasaray to rely on their experienced forward Mauro Icardi to step up in his absence in the important match on Saturday evening.

The match started poorly for the home side, who conceded early to Genclerbirligi. However, Galatasaray quickly found their footing after the break with Icardi leveling the score with a classy one-touch finish.

Minutes later, Barıs Alper Yılmaz put Galatasaray ahead with a composed finish into an open goal before the visitors were reduced to ten men on the hour mark. The host took advantage of the numerical superiority, with Ilkay Gundogan extending the lead to give the Turkish champions a two-goal cushion.

Despite the strong position, Genclerbirligi fought back and pulled a goal back, keeping the tension high.

To make matters worse for Galatasaray, they were reduced to ten men later in the game, intensifying the challenge to maintain their lead. Nevertheless, the team’s resilience saw them through to the final whistle.

Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has outlined a cautious but optimistic recovery plan for Osimhen, targeting a return in approximately two weeks, with hopes he will be available for the crucial Fenerbahce derby and forthcoming AFCON preparations with Nigeria.

For now, Icardi’s inspired performance in Osimhen’s absence shows the depth and fighting spirit of Galatasaray as they continue their push for domestic and European success despite their star striker’s injury setback.