With the first international break of the 2026/27 season now out of the way, club football once again takes centre stage.

FC Barcelona resume their campaign with a La Liga fixture against Getafe this Saturday, before turning their focus to the UEFA Champions League.

The Blaugrana , who view the European competition as their ultimate goal this season, will take on Turkish giants Galatasaray in Istanbul on 13 October, in the second matchday of the league phase.

And, ahead of the big game, Mundo Deportivo reports that Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray’s star striker, has returned to training after spending a month on the sidelines with an adductor injury.

The Nigerian has been unavailable since 4 September but could be fit to face Barcelona next Tuesday in Istanbul.

It remains to be seen whether Osimhen will be fully fit to start against the Blaugrana after he was not called up by Nigeria for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches and only completed part of Wednesday’s training session with the group.

Osimhen has resumed training. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Yener Ince, Galatasaray’s club doctor, was cautious when discussing Osimhen’s availability for Friday’s league match against Kasimpasa.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Opponent watch: Galatasaray hopeful key superstar will be fit to face Barcelona" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Champions League metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Soccer2026 Global Editorial Desk. Readers following "Opponent watch: Galatasaray hopeful key superstar will be fit to face Barcelona" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.