17.02.2025 22:11
Galatasaray defeated Çaykur Rizespor 2-1 in the 24th week of the Trendyol Super League. With this result, the yellow-reds maintained a 6-point gap with their eternal rival before the Fenerbahçe derby.
Galatasaray visited Çaykur Rizespor in the 24th week of the Trendyol Super League. The yellow-reds, who won the match 2-1, managed to maintain a 6-point lead before the upcoming Fenerbahçe derby.
FRANKOWSKI STARTS IN THE FIRST XI FOR THE FIRST TIME
New transfer Przemyslaw Frankowski made his debut in the yellow-red jersey. The Polish right-back, who joined from France's Lens during the mid-season transfer period, started in the first 11 against Çaykur Rizespor. Mario Lemina and Eren Elmalı, who were added to Galatasaray's squad during the mid-season transfer, waited on the bench to wear the jersey for the first time.
RIZESPOR HITS THE POST
In the 39th minute of the match, Rizespor came very close to scoring. Abdülkadir passed the ball he intercepted from Torreira in the midfield to Ali Sowe. Sowe's shot in a one-on-one situation hit the post.
GALATASARAY DID NOT HAVE A SHOT ON TARGET IN THE FIRST HALF
In the match against Çaykur Rizespor, Galatasaray had the least number of touches in the opponent's penalty area in the first half with 8 times this season in the Super League, and for the first time, they could not make a shot on target in the first half of a match. The yellow-reds failed to hit the target with 4 shots. The Black Sea team hit the target with 2 of their 9 shots in the first half.
OKAN BURUK MADE TWO CHANGES AT HALF TIME
Galatasaray's head coach Okan Buruk made two changes before the second half of the match. Carlos Cuesta and Dries Mertens were substituted. Eren Elmalı and Roland Sallai came into the game. Thus, Eren wore the yellow-red jersey for the first time.
OSIMHEN OPENED THE SCORING
In the 47th minute of the match, Galatasaray took the lead 1-0 with Victor Osimhen. Osimhen, who headed the ball from Frankowski's cross from the right wing, put his team ahead. Frankowski provided an assist in his first match wearing the Galatasaray jersey.
ASSIST FROM FRANKOWSKI IN HIS FIRST MATCH
The Polish right-back, who joined from France's Lens during the mid-season transfer period, started in the first 11 against Çaykur Rizespor. The 29-year-old player assisted Osimhen for the goal, making an assist in his first match wearing the Galatasaray jersey.
SOWE EQUALIZED THE SCORE
In the 54th minute of the match, Rizespor equalized. Akintola made a ground cross after reaching the byline from the right wing. Ali Sowe sent the ball into the net with a single touch from close range.
LEMINA CAME ON AND PROVIDED AN ASSIST
New transfer Mario Lemina came into the game in the 61st minute. Lemina replaced Ahmed Kutucu. Starting his second spell at the yellow-reds, Lemina provided the assist for the winning goal after returning to the team after years.
OSIMHEN ONCE AGAIN ON THE SCENE
Victor Osimhen was on the scene again in the 86th minute. During the corner kick, Lemina deflected the ball, and Osimhen's header hit the crossbar and found the net! Galatasaray regained the lead. With no more goals in the remaining minutes, Galatasaray emerged victorious with a score of 2-1.
6-POINT GAP BEFORE THE DERBY
With this result, Galatasaray, who won 20 of the 23 Super League matches this season (3 draws), became the first team in league history to achieve 20 victories in the first 23 matches of a season. Galatasaray, raising its points to 63, maintained a 6-point gap with Fenerbahçe before the derby. Rizespor remained at 27 points. In the next match week of the league, Galatasaray will host Fenerbahçe at home, while Rizespor will face Samsunspor away.
POINTS TABLE
- Galatasaray (63)
- Fenerbahçe (57)