Victor Osimhen will carry a major risk into Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League clash with Liverpool on Tuesday night, as the Nigerian striker is only one yellow card away from suspension, Soccernet.ng reports.
Galatasaray welcome the English club to Rams Park for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45. Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano will take charge of the match.
Osimhen has already picked up two yellow cards in the competition this season, in games against Juventus and Atletico Madrid. If he receives another booking against Liverpool, he will be suspended for the return leg at Anfield next week.
According to UEFA rules, players are suspended for one match after collecting three yellow cards in the Champions League, as long as those cautions do not lead to a red card. After the first suspension, another one-game ban is triggered by every odd-numbered caution that follows, such as the fifth or seventh yellow card.
For Galatasaray, losing Osimhen for the second leg could be a big blow. The Nigerian striker has been one of the team’s most important players in Europe this season and has already scored seven goals in the Champions League.
That tally leaves him just one goal short of equalling the record for the most goals scored by a player from a Turkish club in a single Champions League season. The record is currently held by Burak Yılmaz, who scored eight goals for Galatasaray during the 2012-13 campaign.
Osimhen also has a small piece of history with Liverpool’s stadium. The striker played at Anfield once before in 2022 while at Napoli, when the Italian side lost 2-0 to the Reds. Earlier in that same campaign, Napoli had beaten Liverpool 4-1, with Osimhen winning a penalty in that game.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Champions League showdown at Rams Park
Despite the suspension worries, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has a fully fit squad available for the big European night in Istanbul.
The Turkish champions have no injury or suspension concerns for the first leg. Only Arda Ünyay, Renato Nhaga and Can Armando Güner will miss the match because they are not registered in the club’s UEFA squad.
However, Osimhen is not the only player walking a disciplinary tightrope. Six other Galatasaray players are also one yellow card away from suspension. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, defenders Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Roland Sallai, as well as forward Noa Lang, could all miss the return leg if they are booked.
Coach Okan Buruk himself is also close to a touchline ban and would be unable to lead the team in England if he receives a yellow card.
Liverpool also have two players at risk of suspension; Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, injured striker Alexander Isak will not feature for the English side.
Both teams have already met once in this season’s Champions League league phase. Galatasaray won that match 1-0 at home, with Osimhen scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.
Osimhen’s first-half goal seals Galatasaray’s win over Liverpool at RAMS Park #GSLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/vWECcc38Zq
— Soccernet.ng (@soccernet_ng) September 30, 2025
Galatasaray finished the league stage in 20th place with three wins, one draw and four defeats. They then reached the Round of 16 after beating Juventus in the play-off stage with a 7-5 aggregate score.
Liverpool had a stronger league phase campaign. Arne Slot’s team recorded six wins and two defeats, finishing third in the 36-team standings to qualify directly for the Round of 16.
The return leg of the tie will be played at Anfield on March 18, where both sides will battle for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
