Liam Duckstein
Osimhen Hopes to Dodge Liverpool Clash
Victor Osimhen admits he prefers for Galatasaray to avoid Liverpool during the upcoming Champions League last-16 draw. The Turkish side secured their progression after a dramatic play-off encounter against Juventus, eventually winning 7-5 on aggregate. After the Italian giants scored three unanswered goals to level the tie at 5-5, Osimhen restored the lead in extra time before Baris Alper Yilmaz confirmed the victory.
Friday’s draw will pit Galatasaray against either Liverpool or Tottenham. While the Istanbul club defeated Arne Slot‘s team 1-0 in September courtesy of an Osimhen penalty, the striker remains wary of a rematch.
‘I mean to be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge. Anyone we meet now… I wouldn’t say much but I would like to escape Liverpool. But if they come, yeah, we’re going to dig it out but it’s not going to be easy.’
Potential Last-16 Pairings
The draw scheduled for Friday morning features several high-profile possibilities for English clubs:
| Club | Potential Opponents |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta |
| Chelsea | Newcastle United or PSG |
| Liverpool | Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray |
| Man City | Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid |
| Tottenham | Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray |
| Newcastle United | Chelsea or Barcelona |
Osimhen emphasized that no opponent at this stage is simple, highlighting the performance of Bodo/Glimt as evidence of the tournament’s depth. He noted that winning the competition requires facing the “big dogs” to make a statement. Despite the 1-0 win earlier in the campaign, Galatasaray have not yet visited Anfield. Osimhen believes his squad is prepared for the challenge if the balls fall that way, citing the “fight” within the team. Keep up with TipsGG for full coverage of the Champions League knockout stages.
Read also: UEFA Europa League Betting Digest, February 26 2026