In a highly anticipated Super Lig match, Galatasaray, leading the league with 32 points, faced off against their arch-rivals Fenerbahçe at Chobani Stadium. The yellow-red team took the field with a starting eleven that included Uğurcan Çakır, Davinson Sanchez, Mario Lemina, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Kazımcan Karataş, Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Sara, İlkay Gündoğan, Leroy Sane, Barış Alper Yılmaz, and Victor Osimhen.
On the bench, Galatasaray had Batuhan Şen, Günay Güvenç, Mauro Icardi, Yunus Akgün, Berkan Kutlu, Ahmed Kutucu, Kaan Ayhan, Yusuf Demir, Gökdeniz Gürpüz, and Arda Ünyay ready to make an impact.
Head coach Okan Buruk made three changes to the lineup that suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Champions League. Notably, Buruk had to adjust his squad due to absentees: Rolan Sallai was suspended, while Ismail Jakobs was sidelined due to injury. Mauro Icardi, who had been tasked with the leading forward role in the absence of Osimhen, was moved to the bench.
In a creative move, Buruk assigned Davinson Sanchez to the right-back position and shifted Mario Lemina to central defense to compensate for the absence of injured players Wilfried Singo and Roland Sallai. Kazımcan Karataş filled in at left-back, showcasing the depth in the squad despite the numerous injuries.
Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian star who had been absent for two matches due to a thigh injury sustained during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, made his return for this critical derby. His presence is expected to bolster the team’s attacking options.
Additionally, Yunus Akgün, who recently underwent hernia surgery, was included in the squad for the first time since his operation. Originally projected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, Yunus made a swift recovery and was reintroduced into the team just 23 days post-surgery.
Kaan Ayhan and Berkan Kutlu also made it back into the squad after recovering from their injuries, providing a more robust lineup for this crucial clash.
Support for Galatasaray was palpable, as approximately 2,500 fans traveled to Kadıköy to cheer on their team in a stadium with a capacity of around 50,000. The visiting fans gathered at RAMS Park before making their way to the stadium, creating an electrifying atmosphere with chants and encouragement for the yellow-red squad throughout the match.
This derby not only showcased the rivalry between the two teams but also highlighted the resilience and dedication of Galatasaray’s coaching staff and players, who continued to fight for their position despite significant challenges. The return of key players and the unwavering support from their fanbase offers a hopeful outlook as they press on in the league.