Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has expressed frustration after his side fell to a second consecutive Champions League defeat, with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen struggling to make an impact in a 1–0 loss to AS Monaco on Tuesday night.
The Turkish champions, who hoped Osimhen’s return would reignite their attack after their previous defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, instead found themselves muted once again, this time by a disciplined and resolute Monaco back line.
Monaco shut down Osimhen
Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ talisman and former African Footballer of the Year, was kept quiet from start to finish. Monaco’s compact defensive organization cut off his supply lines, forced him into isolated positions, and ensured he remained largely ineffective throughout the 90 minutes.
To make matters worse for Galatasaray, it was another player of Nigerian descent, Folarin Balogun, who decided the match. After Monaco missed an earlier penalty, the former Arsenal striker struck early in the second half to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Gala push late but fall short
Galatasaray responded well after going behind, pushing aggressively in search of an equalizer. However, Monaco’s defence held firm, repeatedly shutting down Osimhen’s attempts to find space or threaten from behind.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, the Ligue 1 side secured the win, moving level on points with Galatasaray and deepening the Turkish club’s struggle in the group. Galatasaray dropped to 17th position in the overall Champions League standings as their form continues to dip at a crucial point in the campaign.
Buruk: “Losing this match upsets us.”
Okan Buruk did not hide his disappointment after the final whistle. Speaking to UEFA, the Galatasaray coach admitted that the latest setback has left the team frustrated.
“Losing this match upsets us,” he said. “We have nine points and two matches left. We will do everything we can to reach our objectives.”
Buruk praised his side’s first-half effort but lamented their inability to sustain momentum after halftime.
“We played in a way befitting of our fans in the first half, but the second half didn’t go as we wanted,” he added. “We will be much better in the match against Atlético de Madrid.”
