In one of the most significant fixtures in world football,Fenerbahce hosted their fierce rivals Galatasaray on Monday night, aware that a win would finally allow them to overtake the three-time defending champions at the summit of the Super Lig.
Having only won once in their last eight encounters against Galatasaray before this match, Fenerbahce hoped to secure their first home victory over them since 2022 for multiple reasons.
Galatasaray was suffering from a significant injury crisis, leaving their squad weakened ahead of the game. Nevertheless, Victor Osimhen and Mario Lemina returned to the starting lineup, though not fully fit and visibly limited.
Fenerbahce carried much more momentum than their struggling opponents and, playing in front of their home fans, this was a key chance to make a statement.
As expected, the match was intense, with referee Yasin Kol struggling to maintain control. The game was frequently interrupted by minor fouls and several questionable calls, reflecting the generally poor refereeing standards in the country.
After controlling the early stages, Galatasaray took the lead thanks to Leroy Sane, whose shot deflected and caught Ederson off guard in goal.
Honestly, neither side performed particularly well, and clear scoring opportunities were scarce for both teams.
In the second half, Galatasaray were content to concede possession, sitting back to protect their lead, while Fenerbahce struggled to break through.
However, Galatasaray’s players began to tire and showed signs of fitness issues, and in the 95th minute, Jhon Duran headed in a goal following a precise cross from Levent Mercan tosecure a 1-1 draw.
The result was probably fair, as neither team played at a high level. Fenerbahce would have been disappointed not to perform better at home against a less-than-peak Galatasaray, while Galatasaray themselves will be frustrated at failing to hold on for a win that would have been a major milestone.
So, overall, little changed for either side, with Galatasaray still leading. However, the outcome opened the door for one team...
Trabzonspor firmly in the title race
The clear winners from Monday’s result were Trabzonspor. Fatih Tekke’s squad has been impressive this season and extended their unbeaten streak to nine games over the weekend witha 3-1 victory against Konyaspor.
Paul Onuachu continued his outstanding form by scoring twice, bringing his Super Lig tally this season to 11 goals — the highest in the league.
Ernest Muci also found the net, marking his second consecutive strong performance for the Albanian player.
This win kept them in third place but reduced the gap to just two points behind Galatasaray at the summit. They are performing well and are serious contenders for the title. Whether they can maintain this pace remains to be seen, but they have given plenty to admire.
Team of the Week
Besiktas midfielder Orkun Kokcu and Karagumruk goalkeeper Ivo Grbic are the joint players of the week, according to our internal rating system.
The Turkish midfielder was crucial in his team’s 2-0 victory over Karagumruk, whose goalkeeper Grbic made 10 saves, including one penalty stop.
Orkun’s teammates Emirhan Topcu and Jota Silva also feature in the team, alongside Onuachu and Muci in the starting lineup.
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