UCL: Lille Defender Ribeiro Vows to Keep Osimhen Quiet
Lille centre-back Alexsandro Ribeiro has vowed to give Victor Osimhen a tough battle when the French side host Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
The Brazilian defender is relishing the prospect of facing the Nigerian striker in Wednesday’s Matchday Three encounter at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with both teams desperate to secure their first points after losing their opening two matches.
The showdown will also bring Osimhen back to familiar surroundings, having featured for Lille during the 2019/2020 season before earning a big-money move to Napoli.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Ribeiro admitted that containing the Galatasaray forward would be a difficult task, describing the contest as a personal battle between the two players.
“Yes, I’ll be playing against Osimhen. It’s going to be a tough match for us. It will be a bit of a battle between the two of us,” the defender told the media.
Osimhen, renowned for his pace, physical strength and clinical finishing, is expected to pose a major threat to Lille’s defence as Galatasaray seek to revive their European campaign.
However, Ribeiro will be determined to stand firm against the Super Eagles striker and help Lille secure a crucial victory on home soil.
Ribeiro Delighted With Injury Recovery
Beyond the Osimhen showdown, the Lille defender expressed satisfaction with his progress this season after an injury-disrupted campaign last term.
“I’m back on the pitch. It feels great. My injury last year was different; I couldn’t play many games. I’m showing good progress this season, and I want to continue like that. The club have also made a big contribution to this,” he said.
With both sides under pressure to get their Champions League campaigns back on track, the battle between Ribeiro and Osimhen could prove decisive in determining the outcome of the encounter.
