Frankfurt Boss Toppmöller Warns: Galatasaray Still Dangerous Without Osimhen

Eintracht Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmöller has played down suggestions that Galatasaray will be weakened in attack by the absence of Victor Osimhen ahead of their UEFA Champions League opener.

The Eagles host the Turkish champions at the Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday, but Galatasaray will be without their star striker, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained on international duty with Nigeria two weeks ago. The 26-year-old was left out of the 23-man squad announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference, Toppmöller admitted Osimhen’s absence is significant but pointed to Mauro Icardi as a lethal alternative.

“We’ll see tomorrow if Osimhen plays. There’s no question he brings his quality. If not, Icardi would play, who has also proven many times that he can score goals,” Toppmöller said.
“In the end, it doesn’t matter who starts up front; both have tremendous quality, but of course, their game is different.”

Opinion: A Different Threat, But Still a Threat

Toppmöller’s words underline a truth football fans already know: Galatasaray are far from a one-man team. Osimhen’s absence will certainly rob them of raw pace and power up front, but in Mauro Icardi, they boast one of the most natural finishers in European football.

The Argentine’s movement in the box and eye for goal can punish any defense, while Galatasaray’s supporting cast—featuring Leroy Sané and Yunus Akgün—ensures creativity will not be lacking. For Frankfurt, that means there is no room for complacency.

In fact, Osimhen’s absence could force Galatasaray to play with more tactical fluidity, perhaps leaning on Icardi’s positional awareness rather than direct attacking runs. Sometimes, that unpredictability can be harder to defend against.

Frankfurt fans may breathe a sigh of relief that they won’t see Osimhen charging at their backline, but make no mistake: the Turkish champions still arrive with teeth sharp enough to bite.