Osimhen returns and Galatasaray hope he faces Barça on Tuesday

Galatasaray are optimistic they can have Victor Osimhen back after more than a month out with an adductor injury, with a view to playing Barça next Tuesday at 21:00 in Istanbul, during the second round of the Champions League “league phase”.

The Nigerian forward has returned to training, but his availability depends on how tests go after a serious muscle-group issue involving a hematoma. As the club doctor, Yener Ince, said, the striker suffered “a severe hemorrhage in the muscle group” and that the club “emptied the hematoma” using a different method; Osimhen “feels even more relieved”, and treatment is ongoing. Still, the medical staff won’t rush him and will decide based on the test results.

This Wednesday, he only took part in part of the group session. Before that, he wasn’t called up for his country’s Africa Cup qualification matches. Galatasaray come into the game after their league-phase opener ended in a 3-1 loss to Sporting, and they sit second with 13 points from 18, level with Amed SK.