Galatasaray will be without their talismanic forward Victor Osimhen when they take on Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 playoffs, Soccernet.football reports.
Osimhen, the Turkish giants’ top scorer in both the Super Lig and Europa League this season, is suspended for the crucial clash. The Nigerian striker has been in scintillating form, netting 17 goals and providing five assists across all competitions since joining on loan from Napoli.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has been forced into key changes, with centre-back Davinson Sánchez and midfield enforcer Lucas Torreira also suspended.
In response, Buruk has decided to deploy former Real Madrid, Chelsea, and AC Milan forward Álvaro Morata as Osimhen’s replacement.
Morata via IG
The bromance with Osimhen is growing pic.twitter.com/ed4dnPLNga
— Official AGT⚽️ (@Iam_agt) February 10, 2025
Colombian defender Davinson Cuesta will step in for Sánchez, while Turkish international Kaan Ayhan is expected to anchor the midfield in Torreira’s absence.
The suspensions have disrupted Galatasaray’s usual starting XI, leaving Buruk with the task of reshaping his team for this pivotal encounter.
Despite the setbacks, the squad remains confident as they prepare to face an AZ Alkmaar side that battled their way through the group stage.
Galatasaray’s preparations have been intensive, with Buruk granting his players a short rest before resuming tactical drills.
The team will need to compensate for the absence of Osimhen, whose five goals in six Europa League matches this season have been instrumental in their campaign.
The Nigerian forward is just one goal away from reaching double digits in the competition, having already scored nine times in 14 appearances across his career.
The Turkish club started their Europa League campaign strongly but stumbled in the latter stages of the group phase, managing only two draws and a defeat in their final three matches.
This slip saw them drop into the playoffs after finishing 14th in the overall standings. AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, secured their place in the knockout rounds with a 19th-place finish, setting up an intriguing battle in Istanbul.
Despite missing key figures, Galatasaray will look to their experienced squad, with Morata leading the attack in place of Osimhen. The Spaniard’s big-game experience in Europe could prove vital as they aim to gain an advantage ahead of the second leg in the Netherlands.
Osimhen is expected to return for the decisive second leg, where he will have another opportunity to make history in the competition.