Victor Osimhen scored as Galatasaray produced a comeback victory to defeat his former club Lille 4-2 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, securing their first win of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Nigerian striker found the net in the second half as the Turkish champions recovered from a difficult spell to claim all three points against the French side.
Galatasaray made an explosive start, taking the lead just two minutes after kick-off through Yunus Akgün. The early goal gave the hosts an encouraging opening and appeared to put them in control of the contest.
However, Lille responded quickly and turned the match around through Soriba Diaoune, who scored twice to put the visitors ahead.
Diaoune levelled the score in the eighth minute before striking again in the 39th minute, completing his brace and giving Lille a 2-1 advantage as the first half approached its conclusion.
Galatasaray needed a response before the interval, and Aleksei Batrakov restored parity in the 44th minute. The midfielder converted Roland Sallai’s assist to make it 2-2, ensuring the sides went into the break on level terms after an entertaining first half.
The equaliser gave Galatasaray renewed momentum, and the home side continued their recovery after the restart.
Their persistence paid off in the 52nd minute when Lille midfielder Nabil Bentaleb inadvertently put the ball into his own net. The unfortunate own goal handed Galatasaray a 3-2 lead and shifted the pressure onto the French visitors.
With the advantage restored, Galatasaray looked to strengthen their position and prevent Lille from mounting another comeback of their own.
Osimhen delivered the decisive moment in the 61st minute, scoring the hosts’ fourth goal to extend their lead to 4-2. The finish completed Galatasaray’s turnaround and gave the Turkish champions valuable breathing space as they sought to see out the match.
The goal was particularly notable because it came against Lille, Osimhen’s former club, adding another talking point to the striker’s performance on a significant European night.
After falling behind following their early lead, Galatasaray showed resilience to recover from Diaoune’s first-half double and regain control of the contest. Batrakov’s late first-half equaliser proved important, while Bentaleb’s own goal and Osimhen’s strike helped the hosts establish a decisive advantage.
Lille, meanwhile, were unable to protect their lead after Diaoune had put them in front. Their defensive difficulties following the interval allowed Galatasaray to take control and secure the victory.
The result gives Galatasaray their first win of this season’s Champions League campaign and provides a boost as they continue their European journey.
For Osimhen, the goal against Lille was another important contribution for the Turkish champions, with the Nigerian forward playing a decisive role in a match that required Galatasaray to recover from adversity.
Galatasaray will now look to build on the result in their remaining European fixtures, while Lille will need to respond after surrendering their first-half advantage.
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