Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro says he is prepared for a demanding personal battle with Victor Osimhen when the French side host Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.

The teams meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in a matchday three fixture, with both searching for their first points after defeats in their opening two matches of the competition.

The game will also see Osimhen return to a club he represented during the 2019/2020 season. The Nigeria striker left Lille for a high-profile move to Napoli after that campaign and will now face his former side in France.

Ribeiro expects Osimhen to provide a significant test but is relishing the opportunity to compete directly with him.

“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 Brazilian told the media before the match.

The Lille centre-back is also pleased with his own progress after an injury-disrupted campaign last year.

Ribeiro said he had been unable to feature regularly because of the nature of that injury, but believes his return to the pitch has allowed him to build momentum this season.

“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 added.

The meeting with Galatasaray therefore presents Lille with the chance to claim their first UEFA Champions League points, while Ribeiro faces the responsibility of helping to contain Osimhen on his return to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.