What happened to Noa Lang? Galatasaray forward update after freak hand injury
Galatasaray’s Lang suffered a horror injury at Anfield on Wednesday, as the Turks bowed out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage.
Galatasaray player Noa Lang sustained a freak injury in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, suffering what his club described as a “severe laceration” to one of his fingers.
How did Lang’s injury happen?
In the closing stages of the last-16 second leg, Lang was left writhing in pain and clutching his right hand, after seeming to catch his thumb on an advertising hoarding at the stadium’s Anfield Road end.
The Dutch international appeared to suffer the deep cut when he placed his hands on top of the hoarding in a bid to cushion his body’s momentum, following a tussle for the ball with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones.
Lang, who had come on for Sacha Boey at half time, required several minutes of medical attention, with doctors from both clubs involved. He was then stretchered off and taken to hospital in Liverpool.
The 26-year-old was replaced by Italian forward Mauro Icardi.
“A bad injury”
“Noa has a serious finger injury,” Galatasaray’s head coach, Okan Buruk, said postgame. “He will first go to a hospital here; he will be examined as soon as possible. It’s a bad injury to his finger.”
In a statement, Galatasaray added that Lang was to have an emergency operation before leaving the U.K., to repair his damaged thumb.
“Our player Noa Lang, who sustained an injury during the second half [...], suffered a severe laceration to his right thumb,” the Turkish champions said. “He is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure in Liverpool within the coming hours, which will be attended by our medical team.”
Taking to social-media on Thursday, Lang then posted a photo of himself at Merseyside’s Whiston Hospital, accompanied by the lighthearted message: “Shit happens.”
Osimhen also suffers major injury
Galatasaray also confirmed that striker Victor Osimhen, who had to be replaced at the break, suffered a broken arm during the first half of Wednesday’s game.
“Post-match examinations conducted at a hospital under the supervision of our medical staff confirmed that the player had suffered a fracture in his right forearm, and his arm was subsequently placed in a cast,” Galatasaray said. “A decision regarding whether surgery will be required is expected to be made in the coming days, following further medical assessments.”
Galatasaray were beaten 4-0 at Anfield, as Liverpool overcame a first-leg deficit to seal a 4-1 aggregate win. The Reds will now face the Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain, in the quarterfinals.
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