Osimhen fires Galatasaray past Beşiktaş in fiery Istanbul derby victory

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Galatasaray claimed bragging rights in the heated Istanbul derby after edging Beşiktaş J.K. 1–0 in their Turkish top-flight clash on Saturday.

The decisive moment came in the 39th minute when Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen rose highest inside the box to head home a lofted pass from Leroy Sané, giving Galatasaray a crucial lead in the Round 25 encounter of the Turkish Süper Lig.

The goal survived a brief VAR review by referee Ozan Ergün before being confirmed, sparking celebrations among the visiting supporters.

Galatasaray dominated large spells of the first half through controlled passing and attacking pressure, with Sané and Osimhen combining effectively to trouble the Beşiktaş defence.

However, the second half presented fresh challenges for the visitors after Sané was sent off in the 62nd minute for a reckless tackle, reducing Galatasaray to ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Galatasaray showed defensive resilience to hold onto their slim advantage as Beşiktaş pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The hosts came close on several occasions, with striker Hyeon-Gyu Oh missing a clear opportunity early in the second half, while several late corners and attacking moves failed to break down the visitors’ defence.

Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır also played a key role in maintaining the lead, while the backline stood firm under sustained pressure during nine minutes of added time.

The match grew increasingly physical as tension rose in the closing stages, with several players from both sides receiving yellow cards in a fiercely contested derby.

Despite the late pressure from Beşiktaş, Galatasaray held on to secure all three points and strengthen their position in the league standings as the race for the Turkish title intensifies.