Newsletters
A heated altercation erupted between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray players during pre-match warmups Monday evening, forcing security personnel onto the pitch ahead of Türkiye's most anticipated football rivalry.
The incident at Chobani Stadium occurred as both teams prepared for their Super Lig matchweek 14 clash, with just one point separating the title contenders. Security officials quickly intervened and erected a barrier at the center circle, directing players to separate areas of the field to complete their warmup routines.
The match is set to kick off at 8:00 PM local time with league leaders Galatasaray defending their 32-point position against second-place Fenerbahce's 31 points. Referee Yasin Kol oversees the proceedings, assisted by Abdullah Bora Ozkara and Bahtiyar Birinci.
Fenerbahce manager Domenico Tedesco downplayed the significance of facing Galatasaray specifically in his pre-match remarks, emphasizing his team's internal preparation over their opposition.
"We don't care about our opponent," the Italian coach said. "Galatasaray, Stuttgart, Nice, Basaksehir — it doesn't matter. We focus on ourselves. It's important that we act as one united team."
Tedesco suggested the match would be decided by depth rather than tactics, noting that "the bench will be important" and predicting the contest would extend beyond the opening hour. He estimated tactics would account for only 15-20 percent of the outcome, with energy proving more decisive.
Fenerbahce entered the derby riding an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions, including four European fixtures, and had won their previous five league matches. A victory would vault them past their archrivals into first place.
The Istanbul giants lead the Super Lig in goals scored with 30, while Galatasaray boasts the division's second-best defense, conceding just eight goals through 13 matches. The visitors' plus-20 goal difference stands as the league's finest, narrowly ahead of Fenerbahce's plus-18 mark.
Galatasaray has dominated recent meetings between the clubs, losing just once in their last eight competitive encounters dating to the 2022-2023 season. That span includes six Super Lig matches, one Super Cup, and one Turkish Cup tie, with the yellow-and-reds outscoring their rivals 14-3 and recording five clean sheets.
1 min read
Both squads faced personnel challenges ahead of the fixture. Fenerbahce fielded Ederson in goal, with a back four of Semedo, Skriniar, Oosterwolde and Brown. Alvarez and Ismail anchored midfield, while Nene, Asensio and Kerem supported striker En Nesyri. Caglar Soyuncu and Sebastian Szymanski remained uncertain due to match fitness concerns despite recovering from injuries.
Galatasaray welcomed back three key players from injury absences. Victor Osimhen returned after missing two matches with a hamstring strain, while Mario Lemina recovered from knee discomfort. Forward Yunus Akgun rejoined the squad following a four-match absence for hernia surgery.
The visitors' lineup featured Ugurcan in goal, with Davinson, Lemina and Abdulkerim forming the defensive line alongside Kazimcan. Torreira and Sara patrolled midfield, with Ilkay, Sane and Baris Alper supporting striker Osimhen.
However, Galatasaray faced critical absences across their fullback positions. Seven players were unavailable, including injured defenders Wilfried Singo, Ismail Jakobs, Kaan Ayhan and Berkan Kutlu. Roland Sallai served a red card suspension, while Eren Elmali and Metehan Baltaci sat out due to sanctions from an ongoing betting investigation. The shortages left manager Okan Buruk with Kazimcan Karatas as his only available left back.
Jayden Oosterwolde entered the match one yellow card away from suspension, while Lucas Torreira faced the same situation for the visitors.
2 min read
