Victor Osimhen’s impressive scoring streak in European competitions came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night as Galatasaray suffered a 1–0 defeat to Monaco at the Stade Louis II.

The Nigerian striker, who had found the back of the net in eight consecutive European matches prior to the fixture, was kept quiet throughout the encounter as Monaco executed a disciplined defensive display.

Monaco secured all three points thanks to a 68th-minute strike from former England youth international Folarin Balogun, who was open to representing the Super Eagles before switching allegiance to his country of birth, United States. 

The American forward converted clinically after Takumi Minamino had earlier missed a penalty in the second half, a moment that could have shifted the momentum in Galatasaray’s favour.

Osimhen, who completed a permanent move to the Turkish giants in the summer, entered the match as the second highest scorer in this season's Champions League with six goals.

However, he struggled to make an impact in France, finishing the game without a single shot on target despite five attempts.

His underwhelming display in France brought an end to a run of eight consecutive games in European competitions. 

His subdued performance brought an end to a brilliant European run that had seen him score against Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt, Ajax, Tottenham, AZ Alkmaar, and Dynamo Kyiv, including his prolific form in the 2024/2025 UEFA Europa League campaign. 

For Galatasaray, the defeat dealt a blow to their European ambitions, while Osimhen will be disappointed to see his streak halted. 

Adeyemi Adewale