The Galatasaray striker has missed three games with an adductor problem, and Turkish reports say a bench return is planned for October 9.
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Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is expected to resume individual training before the end of this week as he continues his recovery from injury. The 27 year old Nigeria international has missed three matches across all competitions since getting hurt in the 3-2 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4.
Turkish newspaper Sabah reports that his treatment is progressing well and his recovery is on schedule. He travelled to Nigeria during the international break after getting permission from Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk.
The Missed Games
The injury has cost him league games against Kocaelispor and Trabzonspor, and the 3-1 Champions League defeat away to Sporting CP. Galatasaray have struggled for goals without him.
Before the injury, Osimhen had six goals and two assists in his first four Süper Lig appearances of 2026/27. OptaCan also ranked him first in the league for touches in opponents’ penalty areas over the first six weeks, with 44. Bettors following Galatasaray can read how the Bet9ja bonus code works before the Barcelona game.
The Return Plan
The target is Galatasaray’s Süper Lig game against Kasımpaşa at RAMS Park on Friday, October 9. Turkish reports say Osimhen will begin on the bench and is expected to play around 30 minutes.
That plan is designed to get him ready to start the Champions League home game against Barcelona four days later, on Tuesday, October 13. He missed the opening Champions League game, so the Barcelona tie is his first chance to play in this season’s competition.
Last season he scored 22 goals in all competitions for Galatasaray, 15 of them in the league, and the club reached the Champions League round of 16. Galatasaray have won back to back league titles with Osimhen leading the line. Fans following the Barcelona tie can check YOHAIG’s Bet9ja bonus before kick-off.
Super Eagles Context
Osimhen was named in Eric Chelle’s squad for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau games before being ruled out through injury. Galatasaray later thanked the NFF for leaving him out of the squad.
Nigeria play Russia in a friendly on October 6, then face Tanzania in a November double header. Osimhen’s recovery gives Chelle some encouraging news for those qualifiers.
Will Osimhen be sharp enough to start against Barcelona? Readers new to betting on Galatasaray can read the Bet9ja promo code walkthrough first.
📌 Did You Know?
- Galatasaray paid Napoli €75 million for Osimhen, the largest transfer fee in Turkish football history.
- Galatasaray beat Juventus 7-5 on aggregate in last season’s Champions League play off round, winning the first leg 5-2.
- They then beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of the round of 16, before losing the second leg 4-0.
- Their heaviest Champions League defeat of the 2025/26 league phase was a 5-1 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on September 18, 2025.
- Galatasaray averaged 45,432 spectators at home league games last season.
