The eagerly awaited derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe last night at Rams Park in Istanbul ended goalless, leaving lovers of good football with a bitter taste. They had to make do with a bland game where the most exciting moment was Mauro Icardi waving to the fans, alongside the injured Álvaro Morata. Despite Galatasaray dominating large portions of the match, Fenerbahçe, managed by José Mourinho, played conservatively, opting to counter-attack rather than take the initiative.
The officiation of the match was particularly significant, as it was handled by the international referee Slavko Vinčić, brought in due to Fenerbahce’s claims of biased refereeing favoring Galatasaray. Right from the start, tension permeated the air. The match witnessed controversial situations, with Galatasaray claiming two possible penalties—one involving the striker Osimhen and another for handball by Okan Aydın. Fenerbahçe’s goal from Oğuz Aydın was disallowed for foul play against goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. This disallowed goal has added to the air of controversy surrounding the match.
Just five minutes following the kick-off, Fenerbahçe found its first opportunity when Serbian midfielder Kostić's cross lead to Nesyri, who ended up shooting off target. Later, Fenerbahçe’s Aydın would score, but referee Vinčić ruled it out for goalkeeper interference. Galatasaray's Osimhen even faced what many believed should have been awarded as a penalty after being brought down, but Vinčić waved play on.
Things heated up post these moments, especially when the match saw flares thrown from the stands by Fenerbahçe fans, causing the game to be temporarily halted to restore order. Tensions heightened as both sets of players ignored each other’s handshakes before kick-off, setting the stage for what many anticipated as one of Turkey's fiercest rivalries.
By the second half, the pressure occasionally shifted, yet Galatasaray continued to hold the upper hand. A subplot was the impressive performance of Galatasaray goalkeeper Muslera, who made stunning saves, denying potential goals from Fenerbahçe. After stoppages for flare-related disruptions, the match concluded without any score, leaving both teams to reflect on what could have been.
The aftermath of the game saw José Mourinho, typically known for his fiery post-match comments, adopting a surprisingly measured tone. He praised the referee calling it “a very good game,” with “very good performance,” and even acknowledged the pressure he faced from critics for including young defender Yusuf Akcicek, whom he played from the start. Mourinho stated, “If our young player (Akcicek) had made a mistake, people would have killed both me and him. How many shots on goal and how many corners did they have? I think it speaks volumes.”
While Mourinho acknowledged his side's equal performances, he noted, “They played for a draw and were happy with the result, we are not.” Fenerbahce remains six points behind their rivals and will need to rapidly adjust their strategy as they head toward important upcoming fixtures.
Meanwhile, the controversies continued to swirl around Mourinho. His comments about Turkish officiation took on heavier connotations as Galatasaray accused him of racism. Following the match, Galatasaray announced intentions to lodge formal complaints against the Portuguese coach, citing discriminatory remarks directed toward Turkish people, which have fanned the flames stoked by the existing animosity between the two storied rivals. This controversy has sparked widespread reactions, and the club revealed plans to escalate the concerns to UEFA and FIFA.
These events have added yet another chapter to the storied rivalry of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, highlighting the persistent tensions within Turkish football. After this draw, Galatasaray remains the dominant force, sitting at the top of the league with 64 points, having now gone unbeaten throughout the season. The stakes will certainly continue to rise as both teams prepare for their next challenges.