Galatasaray and Lille Meet With Zero Points as Osimhen Faces Old Club

Galatasaray and Lille meet in the third round of the Champions League league phase on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and neither club has a point. Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who once played for Lille, is expected to lead Galatasaray's attack against his old team, according to Türkiye Today and Get French Football News.

Kick-off is at 4:45 p.m. GMT at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. Soccernet.ng also lists the ground as Decathlon Arena. The Turkish side will be without winger Rafael Leao because of a groin injury.

The key numbers behind the match

• 0 points each. Galatasaray lost 3-1 at Sporting Lisbon and 4-1 at home to Barcelona. Lille lost 3-2 to Real Betis and 3-0 to Arsenal.
• 18 goals in 38 appearances. That is Osimhen's record for Lille in 2019-2020, according to Türkiye Today. Soccernet.ng reports he has no goal or assist in this season's Champions League.
• One win in 16. Galatasaray have won once in their last 16 away matches in UEFA competitions, with three draws and 12 defeats. The win was 3-0 against Ajax, Türkiye Today reported. The club has also lost its last five Champions League away games.
• 10 matches. Lille have conceded in each of their last 10 Champions League games since a 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Oct. 2, 2024, according to Türkiye Today.
• 41 matches. None of Galatasaray's last 41 European games has ended goalless.
• 343rd European appearance. The match is Galatasaray's 343rd in European club competition and their 172nd in the Champions League, including its predecessor, the European Cup. Across their previous 342 games they have 121 wins, 90 draws and 131 defeats.

Team news and the Osimhen storyline

Türkiye Today reported that Leao, who played for Lille in 2018-2019, slipped in the 77th minute of Galatasaray's 1-0 league win over Genclerbirligi. He was diagnosed with a mild-to-moderate muscle strain. Defender Wilfried Singo is a doubt, and his status is expected to be clear on matchday. Türkiye Today says he completed the latest training session, while Soccernet.ng describes a thigh problem. Get French Football News lists him among the substitutes in its predicted line-up.

Five other Galatasaray players, including Kaan Ayhan and Kazimcan Karatas, are unavailable because they are not in the club's registered UEFA squad, according to Türkiye Today.

Lille are missing Ethan Mbappe, who is serving a three-match ban for elbowing an opponent against Real Betis, and Tiago Santos, who has a cruciate ligament injury. Goalkeeper Berke Ozer and forward Ayase Ueda face late fitness tests. Soccernet.ng, citing Sports Mole, said that could give Orlando Gill a Champions League debut.

Lille coach Davide Ancelotti said at his pre-match press conference that the plan for Osimhen is collective. Soccernet.ng, translating comments reported by Legit.ng, quoted him as saying: “We stop him as a team.”

Soccernet.ng said Osimhen missed Galatasaray's opener at Sporting through injury. It was not clear from Türkiye Today whether this will be his first official match against Lille, but that outlet said he is preparing to face his former teammates in an official game for the first time.

What's at stake for both clubs

For both teams, the match is a chance to get their first points of the campaign. Lille are fourth in Ligue 1 with four wins, two draws and one defeat from seven games. Their latest result was a 1-1 draw with Brest, and they have conceded only five league goals this season, Türkiye Today reported. Galatasaray remain top of the Turkish Super Lig, according to Soccernet.ng.

The clubs have never met in a competitive match. Soccernet.ng, citing Sports Mole, said Lille have won two and drawn four of their six previous games against Turkish opposition. Galatasaray have won once in their last 11 away games against French clubs.

Reports differ on one Lille statistic. Türkiye Today says Lille have lost their last three Champions League matches, while Soccernet.ng says they have lost their last three home games in the competition.

Predicted line-ups also differ. Get French Football News expects Mario Lemina in midfield and Ismail Jakobs at left-back for Galatasaray. Soccernet.ng's predicted line-ups for both clubs differ in several places, so the starting teams are unconfirmed. Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic will take charge.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Türkiye Today, Get French Football News, Soccernet.ng