Malmo vs Galatasaray: Turkish Lions struggle in first test without Victor Osimhen

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen was expectedly absent as Swedish giants Malmo FF and Galatasaray faced off in a thrilling UEFA Europa League match on Thursday night, which ended in a 2-2 draw. 

This match was an important test for Galatasaray, as they played without their star striker Osimhen, who has been crucial in their recent successes but missed the match due to an injury.

Final Score: Malmo FF 2 - 2 Galatasaray

Location: Eleda Stadion, Malmö, Sweden

Competition: UEFA Europa League, Matchday 6

The match kicked off with both teams keen to secure crucial points. Malmo, sitting at the bottom of Group F with only three points, needed a win to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive. 

Conversely, Galatasaray aimed to solidify their position in the knockout stages, having accumulated 11 points before the match.

Malmo struck first, taking advantage of Galatasaray's defensive lapses. A well-placed cross found the head of Erik Botheim, who scored in the 23rd minute. 

Galatasaray responded quickly; Elias Jelert levelled the score with a powerful shot from inside the box just before halftime.

The second half saw increased intensity from both sides. Galatasaray took the lead in the 56th minute when Yunus Akgun put the visitors ahead for the first time in the game. 

However, Malmo refused to back down and broke Galatasaray’s hearts when Sergio Pena equalised for the hosts.

Osimhen’s absence due to injury was felt deeply, as he had previously contributed crucial goals that helped maintain their unbeaten streak across all competitions.

For Galatasaray, the challenge will be to adapt without Osimhen while maintaining their competitive edge in European football. Meanwhile, Malmo will take heart from this performance as they continue their quest for redemption in the tournament.