Former England and Juventus manager Fabio Capello believes the return of Brazilian center-back Gleison Bremer is the only way Juventus can silence Victor Osimhen in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoff, Soccernet.ng reports.
Juventus will welcome the Turkish Kings, Galatasaray, to the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday for a high-stakes return leg.
The first leg in Istanbul ended in a 5-2 drubbing in favor of Galatasaray, with goals from Yunus Akgün, Noa Lang, Davinson Sánchez, and Sacha Boey doing the damage for the Cimbom.
Entering the second leg, the Turin giants are condemned to win by at least a three-goal margin or face elimination from the competition.
However, overcoming that deficit will be a Herculean task, even with home advantage. Player for player, Galatasaray appears to be on par with—if not superior to—Juventus. In attack, the Cimbom boast one of the best strikers in the world in Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian superstar provided two clinical assists in the first leg, but his impact went far beyond the stat sheet.
His relentless work rate caused constant chaos for the Juventus backline. If they are to have any hope of a comeback, Juventus must find a way to keep Osimhen caged.
Fabio Capello Reveals the Key to Stopping Victor Osimhen And Galatasaray
Ahead of the clash, Capello emphasized that having Bremer fit for the full 90 minutes will be the deciding factor.
The 28-year-old Brazilian started the first leg but was forced off after just 34 minutes due to an injury.
Fortunately, the issue was not serious, and he is expected to lead the defense on Wednesday. Capello believes Bremer’s physicality is the only antidote to Osimhen’s threat.
”Bremer's return is crucial. He is a vital factor against Osimhen and Barış Alper Yılmaz's speed in open spaces,” Capello noted.
“What happened after Bremer came off in the first match is clear; Barış Alper forced many yellow cards and the defense struggled.”
If Bremer plays, he will certainly have his work cut out for him. Having already seen how Osimhen can dictate a game without even scoring, the Brazilian will need to be at his absolute best for the entire duration of the match.
