Lille defender Ribeiro braces for Osimhen duel in Champions League clash

Victor Osimhen will meet a familiar club on Wednesday night when Galatasaray visit Lille in the Champions League, and the man likely to be marking him is already talking up the contest.

Lille centre-back Alexsandro Ribeiro told reporters that he expects a personal duel with the Super Eagles striker at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. "It will be a bit of a battle between the two of us," the Brazilian said, adding that the match will be difficult for his side.

Both clubs go into the matchday three fixture without a point, having lost their first two games in the competition. That makes the meeting in northern France close to a must-win for either side if they hope to stay in the hunt for the knockout rounds.

Why Nigerian fans will be watching

For Nigerian supporters, the draw brings Osimhen back to the ground where he spent the 2019/2020 season before his big move to Napoli. He is now leading the line for Galatasaray, and his form in Europe is one of the things Super Eagles followers track most closely.

Ribeiro, for his part, said he is glad to be back playing regularly after an injury-hit spell last season. He credited the club for helping him return to fitness and said he wants to keep improving as the campaign goes on.

The match also puts a Nigerian international up against a defender who knows the threat he carries. How Lille handle Osimhen could shape a group that is already tight after two rounds.

What happens next

Kick-off is at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday night. A win would lift either side off the bottom of the standings and keep their hopes of progressing alive, while a defeat would leave the loser with a mountain to climb in the remaining group games.