Osimhen Double Settles Istanbul Derby as Galatasaray Beat Fenerbahçe 2-1

Victor Osimhen scored twice before half-time and Galatasaray held off a brief Fenerbahçe revival to win the Istanbul derby 2-1 at RAMS Park.

Osimhen's 29th-minute opener and a header from a throw-in routine on the stroke of half-time gave the home side a lead their first-half performance fully deserved. İrfan Kahveci pulled one back for Fenerbahçe on 62 minutes, but Galatasaray's control of the match was never seriously threatened again.

The numbers tell the story of a one-sided derby. Galatasaray finished with 62% possession, 23 shots to Fenerbahçe's 4, and an expected-goals count of 2.27 against 0.31. Both sides lined up in 4-2-3-1, but only one of those shapes functioned.

Fenerbahçe did not manage a single shot in the opening 45 minutes. Not one. Galatasaray had 11, six of them on target, and 68% of the ball. The away side's 4-2-3-1 sat deep without ever managing to compress the space in front of its own box, and Galatasaray's midfield pair repeatedly found the passing lanes into the half-spaces.

Osimhen's first goal arrived on 29 minutes, a left-footed finish from Barış Alper Yılmaz's assist. The chance carried an xG value of just 0.13, which says more about Osimhen's finishing than the quality of the opportunity. He had to create the angle himself.

The second came in first-half stoppage time, and it was a different kind of goal entirely. Davinson Sánchez's long throw was flicked on, and Osimhen headed home from close range. The set-piece xG for Galatasaray across the match was 0.79, and this was the clearest example of why. Fenerbahçe's defenders never got to grips with the aerial threat.

By the break, Galatasaray had 19 touches in the Fenerbahçe box to the visitors' 3. The game was, in effect, already decided.

Fenerbahçe emerged for the second half with more intent. Their possession share rose to 44%, and they finally registered shots. İrfan Kahveci's 62nd-minute goal, assisted by Oğuz Aydın, was a left-footed strike from open play worth 0.07 xG. It was a good finish from a half-chance, and it gave the away support something to hold onto.

But the response from Galatasaray was measured rather than panicked. They still out-shot Fenerbahçe 12-4 in the second half and generated 1.39 xG to the visitors' 0.31. The home side's 4-2-3-1 kept its structure, the double pivot screened the back four, and Fenerbahçe's attempts to play through the middle were repeatedly smothered.

Fenerbahçe's frustration showed in the tackle count. They committed 18 fouls to Galatasaray's 10 and picked up five yellow cards to the home side's two. Duels won finished 57-51 in Fenerbahçe's favour, a rare statistical win on a night when almost everything else went against them. It reflected effort, not control.

Osimhen's individual numbers were the headline: two goals from 0.62 xG. He outperformed his expected goals by a wide margin, and on a night when Galatasaray generated 3 big chances to Fenerbahçe's 1, his ruthlessness was the difference between a comfortable win and a nervous finish.

Barış Alper Yılmaz finished with 0.28 xG and the assist for the opener. Aleksey Batrakov registered 0.19 xG. Ismail Jakobs, who was active throughout, posted 0.35 xG. The supporting cast created plenty; Osimhen converted it.

For Fenerbahçe, the damage was done in the first half. A 4-2-3-1 that concedes 11 shots and creates none before the break is not a shape problem alone. It is a collective failure to compete. Kahveci's goal and the improved second-half display will offer some encouragement, but the 2.27-0.31 xG margin is a more honest reflection of the gap between these teams on the night.

Galatasaray's 40 touches in the Fenerbahçe box, compared to 10 for the visitors, underline how rarely Fenerbahçe got into dangerous areas. Ten corners to four, 367 accurate passes to 181, and 86% pass accuracy to 71% — the derby was decided by the basics, executed far better by the home side.

Osimhen now has a derby double to his name. Galatasaray have the win. Fenerbahçe leave RAMS Park with a scoreline that flattered them.