Galatasaray maintained their lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig after a tense 0-0 draw against fierce rivals Fenerbahce at RAMS Park. The result extends Galatasaray’s unbeaten league run (W20, D4), but leaves Fenerbahce six points adrift with 12 rounds remaining.
The match, the 402nd meeting between the two Istanbul giants, was played against a backdrop of recent refereeing controversies in Turkish football. Both clubs had requested a foreign official, leading to the appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who officiated last year’s UEFA Champions League final.
The early stages were marked by a stop-start rhythm, with numerous fouls disrupting play. Fenerbahce thought they had taken the lead just before the 15-minute mark when Dusan Tadic’s deflected shot found the net, but the goal was disallowed for a foul by Sebastian Szymanski on Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera in the build-up.
Galatasaray, despite dominating possession, struggled to create clear-cut chances. Referee Vincic waved away penalty appeals after Victor Osimhen went down in the box, leaving the home side frustrated. The first half ended goalless, with Galatasaray failing to register a single shot on target.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with both teams struggling to generate attacking momentum. Caglar Soyuncu’s header was comfortably saved by Muslera, while Fred fired wide for Fenerbahce. Alexander Djiku then forced Muslera into a more challenging save as the visitors continued to look the more likely to score.
Galatasaray attempted to push forward in the final 15 minutes but failed to seriously test Fenerbahce goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat. The result marks the first time Galatasaray have failed to score in a league match this season.
The draw keeps Galatasaray firmly in control of the title race, while Fenerbahce’s hopes of catching their rivals suffer a blow. The result is also likely to extend Jose Mourinho’s wait for a domestic trophy, with his last such success being the EFL Cup with Manchester United in 2017.
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