Victor Osimhen scored twice before half-time as Galatasaray beat Fenerbahçe 2-1 at RAMS Park on Monday. İrfan Can Kahveci pulled one back with an overhead kick after the hour, but the hosts held on to move six points clear of their rivals in the Süper Lig.
Istanbul, Türkiye: The derby never fully escaped Galatasaray’s grip once Osimhen found his range. Victor Osimhen gave the reigning champions control with a goal in the 29th minute and another just before the interval, and a spectacular reply from Fenerbahçe could not drag the contest back level. The win lifted Galatasaray to 22 points after nine matches.
Osimhen strikes twice before the break
Galatasaray were on top from the opening exchanges, and Barış Alper Yılmaz tested Ederson with an early effort in the 15th minute. The breakthrough came in the 29th. Yılmaz fed Osimhen, who finished with his left foot to make it 1-0.
The second arrived in the 44th minute. A long throw from Ismail Jakobs led to a scramble, Davinson Sánchez sent an effort back towards goal, and Osimhen redirected it with a header from close range. Galatasaray walked off at half-time two goals clear.
Kahveci’s overhead kick lights up the second half
Fenerbahçe needed a moment of quality and found one in the 62nd minute. İrfan Can Kahveci collected a pass from Oğuz Aydın and, with the ball in the air, produced an acrobatic overhead kick that beat Uğurcan Çakır to make it 2-1. It was the goal of a derby that had otherwise belonged to the hosts, and it gave the visitors a fresh window to chase an equaliser.
Galatasaray hold their nerve
Galatasaray did not collapse, and the hosts still carried the sharper edge late on. Fenerbahçe’s best chance of levelling came in the 90th minute, when Milan Škriniar’s header was cleared off the goal line. Galatasaray survived the scare and closed out the points.
A statement at the top of the table
The result sent Galatasaray back to the top of the Süper Lig and left them six points ahead of Fenerbahçe, who dropped to fifth with 16 points. Both clubs have had a demanding month in Europe: Galatasaray were beaten at home by Barcelona in the Champions League, as Barcelona hit four after the break in Istanbul, while Fenerbahçe suffered a 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. In the league, at least, the derby gave Galatasaray the cleaner answer.
Result: Galatasaray 2-1 Fenerbahçe (Süper Lig, round nine, RAMS Park, Istanbul, Monday, 26 October 2026). Half-time: 2-0.
Scorers: Osimhen 29’, 44’ (Galatasaray); Kahveci 62’ (Fenerbahçe).
Standings: Galatasaray 22 points, Fenerbahçe 16 points (fifth).
