UCL: Ex-Italy coach backs Juventus to stop Osimhen ahead of second leg clash
Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli believes Juventus can still engineer a dramatic comeback against Galatasaray despite trailing 5-2 ahead of their Champions League second leg.
The Bianconeri face a daunting task in Turin after last week’s defeat in Istanbul, where Victor Osimhen played a decisive role.
Juventus must win by three clear goals to force extra time and by four to progress outright.
Stopping Osimhen the priority
Osimhen did not score in the first leg but registered two assists and influenced three goals.
With Juventus reduced to ten men and trailing 3-2, the Nigerian forward urged his teammates to press for more, as Galatasaray extended their advantage.
The Super Eagles striker, Nigeria’s leading scorer in Champions League history with 15 goals, has six goals and two assists in seven European appearances this season.
He also boasts a strong personal record against Juventus, contributing two goals and four assists in eight meetings.
Prandelli, who previously managed Galatasaray, identified containing Osimhen as central to any comeback bid.
“Galatasaray at the Ali Sami Yen are one team, away from home they’re another: there’s a huge gap,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be difficult for Juventus to overturn the 5-2 first-leg deficit, but not impossible. History is full of epic comebacks, the Bianconeri must believe and try.”
He added: “Scoring three or four goals against Osimhen and his teammates without conceding will be difficult, but after the first half in Istanbul, who would have imagined Galatasaray scoring three goals in 45 minutes against the Bianconeri?
“Spalletti’s team can do it, why not? If you take the lead in the first twenty minutes, then the psychological aspect changes.”
Defensive concerns
Juventus have conceded 15 goals in their last five matches, a run that underlines the scale of the challenge.
“Luciano had everything sorted out, it’s hard to understand what happened in the last few games,” Prandelli said. “The impression is that the pitch is lacking two or three players with character.”
Osimhen, who missed Galatasaray’s weekend league defeat through injury, is expected to return for the decisive clash.
