Galatasaray emerges victorious in the derby: Here are the sports writers' comments

SPORTS WRITERS EVALUATE THE FENERBAHÇE - GALATASARAY DERBY: OKAN BURUK AND GALATASARAY PLAYERS DID NOT FALL INTO MOURINHO'S TENSION TRAP!

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Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray faced off in the 6th week of the Süper Lig. Sports writers evaluated the derby at Ülker Stadium, which Galatasaray won 3-1.

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While Galatasaray's athletic players in the front line stretched the length of the game, Fenerbahçe failed to take precautions against this and fell into the trap. Galatasaray was able to both receive the ball very comfortably and use it very comfortably. If you allow such gaps against Galatasaray, the champion of the last two years, which possesses such experienced and leader players, this is the price you pay. If they could have put forward a game where they could stay on their feet more with Fred and İsmail, perhaps the game could have become a bit more balanced. (Ali Gültiken | Sabah)

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While Mourinho thought he would play long balls to Osimhen, Buruk's well-positioned team didn't even feel the pressure when playing out from the back... They battered the wings and established physical dominance in the center. The two goals were the reward for Buruk's tactical intelligence. As the Fenerbahçe defense struggled with Osimhen, Lucas's shot and then the Nigerian's chest pass to Mertens... Sara scored one of the most beautiful goals in derby history in terms of its buildup. Galatasaray arrived at the derby for 4 days with Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence," and the Depeche Mode classic playing in Kadıköy as they returned home was "Broken"... (Bülent Timurlenk | Sabah)

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Okan Buruk certainly managed his team successfully. Given that he made so many substitutions and the match was proceeding with a safe score, I found it very strange that he did not consider Batshuayi at all. No one expected Fenerbahçe to show such a negative performance on the pitch. But it should not be forgotten that in such difficult matches, if you play with the Tadic-Dzeko duo, your success is left to coincidence. When we look at the other players, Szymanski was a bee that made no honey. Fred, who is considered indispensable by 95 percent of the media, played extremely poorly. If Saint-Maximin had not taken the stage with his individual dribbling, it would have been impossible for Fenerbahçe to challenge the opposing goal at all. (Ömer Üründül | Sabah)

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Galatasaray took care to play as a team. Fenerbahçe, on the other hand, tried to stay afloat through individual skills. Galatasaray was always in the driver's seat of the game. All players were very careful. They did not stray from seriousness. They ran to help each other. Those who heavily criticized Sara will now take their hats off to him after the goal he scored. Inside the Fenerbahçe penalty area, where Sara entered by playing wall passes, his placement of the ball with the inside of his left foot into the corner that Livakovic could not reach smelled of quality. If Osimhen had been at his former strength in the final touches, Galatasaray would have won the derby by a much different margin. (Levent Tüzemen | Sabah)

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At the beginning of the match, both teams found gaps in the second zone. They also committed turnovers while transitioning from defense. Fenerbahçe sought goals through counterattacks, particularly from Maximin's area. Galatasaray looked for opportunities by playing high balls to Osimhen and utilizing his knockdowns. They found two goals in the first half using this method. Despite Çağlar's efforts on three occasions, he could not stop Mertens on the second goal. İsmail, who played poorly, was replaced by Amrabat at the end of the first half. In the second half, Galatasaray was more cautious and controlled. Fenerbahçe, on the other hand, was the side searching for a goal aimlessly when they conceded the third. The penalty kick they earned brought a goal, but it was not enough for them to turn the game around. Galatasaray secured a deserved victory. (Mustafa Çulcu | Sabah)

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When Torreira's shot hit the post, deflected off Livakovic, and went into the net, the tide of the match turned as well. The atmosphere at Kadıköy, the importance of the match, and Mourinho's plans brought about waves of Fenerbahçe attacks in the opening minutes. Maximin was charging toward the opponent's goal like a guided missile. While chances were coming one after another, the Fenerbahçe defense failed to clear a ball coming from a throw-in. Following the shock goal, a masterclass play by Osimhen and Mertens led to the second. Okan Buruk's Galatasaray took complete control of the game, leaving no plan left for Mourinho. (Gürcan Bilgiç | Sabah)

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Fenerbahçe appeared dominant in the second half. They had missed a chance with Oosterwolde in the first half, and they found opportunities in the second, but this time Fenerbahçe conceded a goal that even amateur teams wouldn't. Sara took the ball, passed it, wove through them, and placed it in the corner. Fenerbahçe then won a penalty, but of course, it wasn't enough. Ultimately, derby victories are crucial in determining the championship, but last night we also saw Mourinho. He neither let Fenerbahçe play nor played himself. I think referee Atilla Karaoğlan managed the match very well. He made minor mistakes, but such a derby can easily handle those errors. (Ahmet Çakar | Sabah)

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Oh, what a relief... We finally watched a Fenerbahçe - Galatasaray derby yesterday that was packed with a high dose of football. For this, we must first thank the players and coaching staffs of both teams, and then those who made the decision to schedule the derby for the sixth week. For years, I have been beating myself up, saying, 'Don't automatically put this derby in the penultimate week; you're raising the tension, and no football is being played...' Finally, this foolish insistence was abandoned. The derby was scheduled for the sixth week. And yesterday, from the first whistle to the very last moment, we all watched a derby full of excitement, one where we could say 'thank goodness for football' and talk about the game rather than the tension. (Uğur Meleke | Hürriyet)

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Both teams took the field with their expected lineups. We witnessed a fast-paced start to the match. There was an active and entertaining game on the pitch in the first half. In the opening minutes, Fenerbahçe was ambitious, determined, and eager to create chances, particularly by utilizing the Maximin side. Galatasaray responded in a more composed, calm, and conscious manner. It was a first half filled with goals and opportunities. As of the first half, İsmail's low performance stood out. Losing the ball three times in the first 10 minutes was already an indicator of this. At one point, when both teams pushed their defenses forward and the game became congested in the midfield, balls played to the wings or behind the defense became dangerous for both sides. Following Szymanski's shot that went wide, Galatasaray created a clear chance with Sara, only to be denied by Livakovic. A minute later, as a ball from a throw-in was being cleared, it landed perfectly on Torreira's foot, resulting in a goal worthy of a highlight reel. (Fırat Aydınus | Hürriyet)

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Throughout the week, the predicted starting 11s did not revert to three-man central midfields; instead, familiar systems were deployed with similar profiles. By the end of the first 45 minutes, the scoreboard read 0-2 for Galatasaray, yet Sara, Szymanski, and Oosterwolde had clear goal-scoring opportunities. Looking at the halftime statistics, the game actually appeared balanced, perhaps even slightly in Fenerbahçe's favor. If Mourinho's players had capitalized on the chances they created, or if Torreira's shot hadn't deflected off Livakovic's back, the score could have been different, yes. However, one also needs to look at what was happening on the pitch... (Engin Kehale | Hürriyet)

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If Fenerbahçe wins in Seyrantepe, it is normal for Galatasaray to win as well... Oosterwolde, Tadic, and İsmail were very poor for Fenerbahçe. Galatasaray capitalized on their chances well. There are still many weeks left in the league. A 5-point gap is not significant. Since Fenerbahçe makes many transfers every season and the team doesn't know each other well, Galatasaray, who know each other, won. Otherwise, neither is a step ahead of the other. This is already evident in Europe... (Mehmet Ali Sabuncu | Fanatik)

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Yesterday's match was far from the usual derby atmosphere. It was easier than expected for the officiating team. The referees did not have to make many critical decisions. The card errors that our referees have made a habit of were present in this match as well, but they did not lead to results that would affect the course of the game. In the 36th minute, when Dzeko met the ball behind the defense and was brought down by Sanchez, Fenerbahçe fans expected a red card. Karaoğlan pulled out his yellow card. (Deniz Çoban | Fanatik)

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Let's get to the marvelous Galatasaray goals. Torreira struck the ball on the volley from outside the penalty area... Livakovic was left stunned, FB 0-1 GS. He witnessed Muslera's perfect save in the 22nd minute. The star who left his mark on the derby, Yunus, started it, Osimhen provided the assist, and Mertens delivered a goal finish that reeked of pure art: FB 0-2 GS. The half ended. The hosts started the second half more ambitiously and with more desire. They started, but in the 59th minute, Sara practically caged the Canary defense one by one and struck: FB 0-3 GS. The whistle, which first approved a waist-lock tackle and signaled 'play on' in favor of Fenerbahçe, saw that FB was completely helpless and blew for a penalty out of nowhere. After that, the taste was ruined, I swear. Not because of the football, but because of the referee's unpleasantness! Yeeeess, Ali Koç and Mourinho, help yourselves! And kudos to you, Okan Buruk, period. Fenerbahçe 1 - 3 Galatasaray, and in Kadıköy again... (Oğuz Dizer | Fanatik)

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Fenerbahçe's starting 11 in Kadıköy was indisputable, but Okan Buruk's 11 was full of question marks. Specifically, could Yunus and Mertens play an effective game against the opponent's strong midfield in such a challenging away match? In the first half, Okan Buruk's plan worked well, and there was a Galatasaray that did not sit back against Fenerbahçe, launched effective attacks, scored 2 goals, and gained a clear advantage. As for my first observation regarding Fenerbahçe; the pressure of 'what if we lose' was felt by the players more than the desire to win. The Yellow-Navies, who were only effective with attacks from Maximin's side, caused difficult moments for the opposing defense, but Muslera played flawlessly. Mourinho's one-dimensional attacking approach against Galatasaray was insufficient; the constant curved crosses into the penalty area remained fruitless. (Tunç Kayacı | Fanatik)

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The funny thing is, you send Cengiz Ünder and Mert Hakan, whom you wouldn't even look at, onto the pitch as saviors (!). Fenerbahçe played a game that deserved defeat against its arch-rival. We saw that Okan Buruk had done his homework well. Let us congratulate him and his team. Dear Mourinho, our league is not like other leagues. And Fenerbahçe fans are not like other fans. If things continue this way, you will fall out of favor quickly. (Faik Çetiner | Fanatik)

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In conclusion, it has become clear that Jose Mourinho had no plan against a Galatasaray side operating like a well-oiled machine. He truly just watched his opponent lie down! In contrast, Okan Buruk's team is transforming day by day into an invincible army of conquest and a war machine reminiscent of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, or Tamerlane. No matter what Fenerbahçe does, or whoever they bring in from players to coaches, they cannot get a result against this machine. The league does not end in the 6th week, and Fenerbahçe is not finished with this defeat, but it is clear that things will be much harder for them from now on. It appears that the most serious threat to Galatasaray will remain Beşiktaş, which taught them a harsh lesson in the Super Cup. (Bülent Tuncay | Karar)

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Just like last season, there is a chasm between the teams in the league this year. In terms of the championship race, Beşiktaş has joined Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe this season. Unfortunately, there are huge differences between these three teams and the others. Therefore, the factor that will determine which of these three teams—which can win against other teams even with mediocre performances—will reach the goal will be the matches they play against each other. Fenerbahçe suffered a significant blow by losing the derby in Kadıköy. (Melih Gümüşbıçak | T24)

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