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Fenerbahce secured the Turkcell Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over city rivals Galatasaray at Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday, claiming the trophy for the fourth time in the competition's history.
French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi opened the scoring in the 28th minute, converting a rebound after Levent Mercan's initial effort was blocked by the Galatasaray defense. Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde doubled the advantage three minutes into the second half, finishing from close range following a Marco Asensio corner kick.
The match, refereed by Halil Umut Meler, marked the 405th meeting between Turkiye's two most decorated clubs across all competitions. Fenerbahce head coach Domenico Tedesco made only one change from the semifinal lineup against Samsunspor, bringing in new signing Guendouzi for Bartug Elmaz in the starting eleven.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk made three changes from the semifinal victory over Trabzonspor, most notably selecting Gunay Guvenc in goal ahead of regular starter Ugurcan Cakir. The decision raised eyebrows as Guvenc had primarily featured in cup competitions during the season.
The yellow-reds struggled to create clear chances despite controlling possession for extended periods. Their best opportunity came in the 24th minute when Davinson Sanchez headed over from close range after Ederson parried Mauro Icardi's initial effort.
Leroy Sane received a yellow card in the 34th minute for a challenge on Mert Muldur, while Sanchez was also booked shortly after for a tactical foul. Galatasaray made five substitutions in an attempt to salvage the match, including introducing Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Sara in the second half, but failed to trouble the Fenerbahce defense.
Fenerbahce's tactical setup frustrated Galatasaray throughout the 90 minutes, with the defensive quartet of Mert Muldur, Milan Skriniar, Oosterwolde and Levent Mercan limiting space for the opposition's attacking players. Ismail Yuksek partnered effectively with Guendouzi in central midfield, breaking up play and initiating counter-attacks.
The match saw several contentious moments, including appeals for penalties from both sides that went unheeded by referee Meler. Fenerbahce received four yellow cards during the contest, with Muldur, Oosterwolde and Guendouzi all cautioned. Galatasaray collected five bookings, including cards for Sanchez, Sane, Roland Sallai and Icardi.
Colombian striker Jhon Duran led the line for Fenerbahce before being substituted in the 68th minute for Dorgeles Nene, who had been flown in from Mali following Africa Cup of Nations duty. Brazilian playmaker Anderson Talisca, recently recovered from injury, remained on the bench throughout.
The victory continues Fenerbahce's improved record against their fiercest competitors in cup competitions. The clubs have now met five times in the Super Cup, with Galatasaray holding a 3-2 advantage in those encounters prior to this match.
This edition of the Turkcell Super Cup featured four teams for the first time, with semifinal rounds preceding the final. Fenerbahce defeated Samsunspor 2-0 to reach the showpiece, while Galatasaray overcame Trabzonspor 4-1 in their semifinal.
Galatasaray had won the Super Cup seven times previously, most recently claiming a controversial 3-0 forfeit victory in April 2024 when Fenerbahce withdrew their senior squad from the match. The yellow-blues last legitimately won the trophy in 2014, defeating Galatasaray on penalties following a goalless draw in Manisa.
Approximately 33,000 Galatasaray supporters filled their designated section at the 76,000-capacity venue, creating a red wall of support for their team. Fenerbahce fans occupied their allocated areas in full, generating a charged atmosphere typical of Istanbul derbies.
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