Istanbul, Turkey – Victor Osimhen was the undisputed hero at RamsPark on Wednesday evening, bagging a brace that propelled Galatasaray to a vital 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt. This triumph marks a significant upturn in fortunes for the Turkish giants, following a disappointing run of just one win in their previous 18 main-draw European ties.
The electric atmosphere of the RamsPark was ignited within minutes of kick-off. In the third minute, Mario Lemina expertly slid a pass through to a rampaging Osimhen, who made no mistake, calmly slotting past Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin for the opening goal.
The Nigerian striker continued to terrorize the Bodø/Glimt defense, his sheer intensity proving a constant handful. While Haikin was forced into a series of smart saves, denying Osimhen headers from two Leroy Sané crosses, the visitors struggled to find their footing. Despite periods of possession that were met with a vociferous chorus of whistles from the home support, Bodø/Glimt rarely threatened Galatasaray’s Uğurcan Çakır.
Osimhen, however, was not done inflicting damage. He pounced expertly when Odin Bjørtuft failed to fully clear Ismail Jakobs’ cross, only to be denied once more by a sharp Haikin save. The Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper was left utterly helpless in the 33rd minute, however. A lax backpass from Fredrik André Bjørkan presented Osimhen with a golden opportunity, which he gleefully accepted, rounding Haikin and sliding the ball into an empty net for his second of the night.
Bodø/Glimt did show glimpses of their attacking threat before the break, with Jens Petter Hauge firing wide and Sondre Brunstad Fet striking the post from distance. Their intent remained after halftime, with Bjørkan embarking on a promising run and Sondre Auklend’s subsequent shot being blocked. Yet, a stark warning sign was missed when both Osimhen and Yunus Akgün passed up shooting opportunities before Sané saw his effort saved.
Unfortunately for Kjetil Knutsen’s side, they failed to heed the warning. Haitam Aleesami was dispossessed by Osimhen on the edge of the box, a mistake that paved the way for Akgün to score Galatasaray’s third, beating Haikin at the second attempt. Bodø/Glimt’s defensive frailties continued to surface, with Fredrik Sjøvold later dispossessing Osimhen, only for the striker to have his follow-up shot blocked after the initial save.
The visitors managed a consolation goal in the 76th minute through Andreas Helmersen’s header from Bjørkan’s cross. However, the outcome of the match was never truly in doubt. This victory marks Galatasaray’s 21st win in their last 23 matches across all competitions, a remarkable testament to their current form and a strong rebuke to their opening-day Champions League defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Furthermore, Galatasaray has put an end to Bodø/Glimt’s impressive five-game unbeaten run in European league phase matches, leaving the Norwegian side with two points from their opening three games.
The night also belonged to Victor Osimhen for another personal milestone. The 26-year-old Super Eagles striker has now become the sole record holder for scoring in the most consecutive European games. He surpasses former Galatasaray star Burak Yilmaz, who previously held the record with six successive European matches for the club in 2012. Osimhen’s scoring streak now extends to seven consecutive European outings, a run that began last season in the Europa League and continued into this Champions League campaign.
With this crucial victory, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk’s side solidifies their position in the Champions League standings, boasting two wins and one defeat from their opening three fixtures.
