The fiery atmosphere of the Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce ignited even before kick-off on December 2, 2025, as Galatasaray's star striker Victor Osimhen engaged in a heated confrontation with Fenerbahce's backup goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat during the warm-up session.
Pre-Match Chaos at Ulker Stadium
The incident, which was captured on video and went viral on social media platform X, occurred at the Ulker Stadium in Kadikoy. According to reports from TRT Spor, the clash began when Osimhen instructed Irfan Can to move back to the area of the pitch designated for Fenerbahce's warm-up, after the goalkeeper had allegedly encroached into Galatasaray's space.
The verbal exchange quickly escalated, requiring intervention from teammates and staff members from both sides to separate the two players. This intervention narrowly prevented the situation from developing into a larger melee involving other players who rushed in to broker peace.
A Tense and Controversial Derby
The pre-match altercation set the tone for what would be a chaotic and fiercely contested match, famously known as the Intercontinental Derby. The game, officiated by referee Yasin Kol, was marred by controversy and saw a total of eight yellow cards issued, including one to Galatasaray's manager, Okan Buruk.
On the pitch, Leroy Sane gave Galatasaray the lead in the 27th minute. However, Fenerbahce's Colombian striker Jhon Duran scored a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer to ensure the points were shared in a 1-1 draw. The result left Galatasaray just one point ahead of their rivals at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table.
Osimhen's eventful evening continued during the match, where he received a yellow card following a clash with his familiar foe, Fenerbahce defender Milan Skriniar. The Nigerian forward was subsequently substituted in the 89th minute, just before Duran's late leveler.
Post-Match Fallout and Osimhen's Form
Neither manager, Okan Buruk of Galatasaray nor Fenerbahce's boss, chose to comment on the warm-up incident after the final whistle. Instead, both focused their post-match remarks on their dissatisfaction with the officiating by referee Yasin Kol.
The spotlight remains on Victor Osimhen's form in the Turkish league this season. The Super Eagles striker has featured in 10 league matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist. His campaign has been disrupted by an injury sustained on international duty, which caused him to miss four of Galatasaray's 14 league fixtures. Interestingly, the club won all four matches he missed.
His goal tally currently places him behind compatriot Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor, who has 11 goals, and Istanbul Basaksehir's Eldor Shomurodov with 10. With Galatasaray in a tight title race, the pressure is on for Osimhen to find his consistent scoring form in the domestic competition.
Looking ahead, Galatasaray will face Samsunspor in their next league outing, while Fenerbahce prepare for another derby clash against Istanbul Basaksehir.
