Fenerbahçe manager Domenico Tedesco has praised his side’s defensive discipline after they successfully contained Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen in Monday’s heated Istanbul derby against Galatasaray.
Osimhen, who was rushed back into action following an injury on international duty with Nigeria, endured a difficult evening at the Ülker Stadium Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu, where both sides battled to a tense 1–1 draw.
The Nigerian striker registered three shots and 30 touches, while losing possession 12 times, as Fenerbahçe’s backline kept him under constant pressure—sometimes rough, always relentless.
Leroy Sané’s first-half strike had given Galatasaray the lead, but substitute John Durán rescued Fenerbahçe deep into stoppage time to ensure the spoils were shared in one of football’s most intense rivalries.
After the match, Tedesco revealed that he had anticipated Galatasaray’s reliance on long balls aimed at Osimhen and Barış Alper Yılmaz—and built his game plan around neutralizing them.
“We’re playing against Galatasaray, not some joke of a match,” Tedesco said, via Fanatik.
“They played long balls to Osimhen and Barış, and we defended most of them well. Winning second balls was key, and my players executed perfectly.”
Is Osimhen Meeting Expectations at Galatasaray?
When Galatasaray splashed €75 million to sign Osimhen from Napoli and handed him a massive contract, expectations skyrocketed. The club brought him in to dominate domestically and deliver in big moments.
So far, that has only partially happened.
While the Nigerian striker has been brilliant in the Champions League, scoring six goals in three matches, his domestic form tells a different story:
3 goals in 10 Super Lig games—a surprisingly low return for a player of his pedigree.
In crucial fixtures against Beşiktaş, İstanbul Başakşehir, Trabzonspor, and now Fenerbahçe, Osimhen has failed to find the net. Some fans point to a lack of service, but the striker himself hasn’t escaped criticism.
Despite the draw, Galatasaray remain top of the Super Lig table—but only one point ahead of Fenerbahçe and two points clear of Trabzonspor. Any further slip-ups could make the title race far more complicated.
