Galatasaray triumphed over Fenerbahce 3-1, ending Fenerbahce’s impressive 32-match unbeaten streak in the Turkish Super Lig, on Saturday night.
This match marked José Mourinho’s debut as Fenerbahce’s coach in the Istanbul derby, which resulted in a bitter defeat for the Portuguese manager.
Galatasaray took control early, with an own goal by Fenerbahce’s Dominik Livakovic in the 20th minute.
Dries Mertens added another goal in the 28th minute, giving Galatasaray a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Gabriel Davi Gomes scoring Galatasaray’s third goal in the 59th minute.
Although Fenerbahce managed to score through Edin Dzeko’s penalty in the 63rd minute, it was too little too late to alter the outcome.
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen made a standout contribution with a world-class assist in the 28th minute.
Although he didn’t score himself, Osimhen’s overall play was instrumental in the victory, showcasing his ability to contribute beyond just finding the back of the net.
Recall that Osimhen who joined from Napoli on loan in his debut match against Çaykur Rizespor also provided an assist last week.
The victory solidified Galatasaray’s position at the top of the Super Lig table, while Fenerbahce’s hopes of winning the derby were dashed, despite Mourinho’s tactical efforts.
Mourinho will likely reflect on his team’s defensive vulnerabilities and look to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures, reports Turkiye Sports.
The 25-year-old Nigeria international had a total of four shots at goal, one of which hit the target.
Before this massive derby, Mourinho had turned the heat up on the African by suggesting that he is prone to diving.
“I don’t have problems with Victor,” Mourinho, who most recently coached Roma in Serie A before joining Fenerbahce, told HT Spor.
“In fact, we have a very good relationship. But every time I play against him, I speak with him because I don’t like the way he behaves. He dives too much.
“I told him, ‘Look, you are one of the two best African players, you and Mohamed Salah.’
“In the past, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, George Weah. You cannot behave like this. He dives too much. That’s my problem with him.”
Regarding the cards, Galatasaray received six yellow cards in the match as they tried to contain Fenerbahçe’s attacks, adding a physical edge to their performance.
The defeated home team had one.
This fixture highlighted Galatasaray’s ability to withstand pressure while capitalizing on crucial moments, like Osimhen’s key assist.
