Galatasaray strengthened its position at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig table with a 2-1 victory over rivals Besiktas in a closely contested match at Istanbul’s RAMS Park on Monday evening. The win extended Galatasaray’s unbeaten run in the league and underscored their ambitions in this season’s title race.
The home side opened the scoring early, as Davinson Sánchez headed home in the 13th minute.
The Colombian defender rose above the Besiktas defense to meet a corner, placing the ball beyond the reach of Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Günok.
This early strike gave Galatasaray control of the match, applying immediate pressure on Besiktas, who struggled to generate effective responses during the first half.
Galatasaray held firm for the rest of the half, with their midfield controlling the tempo and their back line effectively neutralizing Besiktas’ efforts.
Besiktas showed flashes of creativity but lacked the precision to break through Galatasaray’s organized defense before the break.
The second half saw a more aggressive Besiktas side, as they pushed forward to find an equalizer.
However, Galatasaray’s defense remained resilient, repeatedly thwarting Besiktas’ attacking plays.
As Besiktas advanced, spaces began to open in their defense, allowing Galatasaray opportunities to counter.
In the 67th minute, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen doubled Galatasaray’s lead, capitalizing on a fast counterattack.
Receiving the ball in stride, Osimhen cut inside from the left before sending a powerful shot past Günok, much to the delight of the home fans.
The goal not only reinforced Galatasaray’s advantage but also highlighted Osimhen’s impact since joining the squad.
Despite Galatasaray’s control, Besiktas continued pressing, seeking a late goal to salvage the match.
Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when Albanian forward Ernest Muçi found the net in the 94th minute.
Muçi’s goal injected brief hope for Besiktas, but it was too late to change the outcome.
The final whistle confirmed Galatasaray’s 2-1 win, a result that consolidates their position at the top of the Süper Lig standings.
Galatasaray’s victory puts them at 28 points, clear of their closest rivals, while Besiktas remains in fourth with 20 points.
This win reinforces Galatasaray’s title ambitions as they continue to demonstrate consistency and resilience.
The result not only solidifies Galatasaray’s lead in the league but also serves as a statement of intent as they aim for the championship.
Meanwhile, Besiktas will look to regroup and improve consistency as the season progresses, determined to close the gap on their Istanbul rivals.
