This Istanbul derby once again had everything – but only one winner, Galatasaray. And the fourth championship in a row can hardly be taken away from that after the 3-0 (1-0) win on Sunday (April 26, 2026) against Fenerbahçe.
With three game days to go, Leroy Sané’s team, who was in the starting line-up as in the first leg when he scored one of his seven goals of the season so far in the 1-1 draw, is seven points ahead of their city rivals. With a win next Saturday at Samsunspor (7 p.m.), “Gala” can secure their fourth championship title in a row.
Two penalty scenes cause unrest
It only took four minutes for the first pack to form in this traditionally heated derby. Jayden Oosterwolde jumped after a high ball into “Gala” keeper Ugurcan Cakir, triggering the first heated moment of the game, which was to see many more similar situations. Above all, there was a huge amount of discussion in this game.
For example, in the 14th minute, when Davinson Sanchez tackled Fenerbahçe striker Sidiki Cherif in his own penalty area and a penalty was awarded – clearly a correct decision, but there was still a need for discussion. But there was also subsequent celebration from Galatasaray because Talisca shot the penalty shot wide of the goal (14th).
Things got heated again nine minutes later when Sané fell after a duel with Nene Dorgeles and his team vehemently demanded a penalty, but even according to the video images they didn’t get it (23rd). However, this scene still had a decisive influence in Galatasaray’s favor, because the arguments between the players that resulted from this scene led, among other things, to a yellow card for Fenerbahçe keeper Ederson, who had clashed with Sané.
Osimhen goal and Ederson red decide the game
Before this had any further consequences for the Brazilian, Galatasaray took the lead – and as so often, it was Victor Osimhen who was there after a long throw-in and a header extension at the second post and kept his calm (40th). The Nigerian had to take a break for almost six weeks due to a broken forearm, but he celebrated a dream comeback with his 13th goal of the season in just his 20th league game.
And that made his team sweeter in the second half – and that’s when Ederson came back into the game. Because in the 60th minute there was a penalty for Galatasaray, a minimal touch from Oosterwolde against Yunus Akgün was enough for referee Yasin Kol to point to the spot. Ederson couldn’t believe it, complained and stood in front of the penalty spot for a long time, spit provocatively and was sent to the dressing room with a yellow-red card by the referee. After further discussions, Baris Yilmaz was allowed to take the penalty almost seven minutes after the decision and scored to make it 2-0 (67th).
Things got really wild again at 3-0 when Ederson substitute Mert Günok first intercepted a corner, but then collided with teammate Archie Brown and dropped the ball at the feet of Lucas Torreira, who accepted the invitation to score (83′). By now the game was decided – and with it, in all likelihood, the title race in the Süper Lig.
