Former Germany international forward Lukas Podolski has taken a playful swipe at Fenerbahçe after Victor Osimhen inspired Galatasaray to a commanding 3-0 win in the famous Intercontinental Derby on Sunday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
Galatasaray’s victory at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park was both bragging rights and a huge step towards the Turkish Süper Lig title.
Before the game, Galatasaray were already four points clear at the top of the table. This emphatic win stretched the gap to seven points over second-placed Fenerbahçe. With only three matches left this season, Galatasaray now need just one more victory to seal the league crown.
The match itself was full of drama from the very start. Fenerbahçe had a golden chance to change the game early when they won a penalty in the 11th minute. However, Brazilian forward Talisca missed the target completely, dragging his effort wide.
That miss proved costly. In the 40th minute, Osimhen showed his sharp instincts, reacting quickly to a headed pass from Mario Lemina to score and give Galatasaray a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Things got worse for Fenerbahçe in the second half. The visitors' goalkeeper Ederson was sent off in the 62nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for dissent. Galatasaray quickly made the extra man count. Barış Alper Yılmaz scored from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, before Lucas Torreira added a third goal in the 83rd minute to complete the rout.
The derby also lived up to its fiery reputation. There were early clashes, including a heated moment in the sixth minute that saw yellow cards shown to both goalkeepers and defenders. Galatasaray even had two more goals ruled out for offside by VAR, showing how dominant they were.
Podolski reacts as Osimhen leads the charge
Podolski, who spent two seasons at Galatasaray during his playing career, clearly enjoyed the result. The former Arsenal forward, who scored 20 goals in 56 league appearances for the club, celebrated the win on social media.
Despite winning the Turkish Cup and two Turkish Super Cups during his time in Istanbul, Podolski never lifted the league title. Now watching Galatasaray close in on a fourth straight crown, he posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Fener don't cry” — alongside a picture of Osimhen.
Osimhen fully deserved that spotlight. Returning to the starting lineup after a recent injury, the Nigerian striker delivered a powerful performance leading the attack.
He was the difference-maker once again. His goal in the 40th minute broke the deadlock, but his overall display went far beyond scoring. Using his speed and strength, he constantly troubled the Fenerbahçe defence, pulling players out of position and creating space for teammates.
The former Napoli striker also worked hard without the ball, pressing defenders and stopping Fenerbahçe from building attacks from the back. His energy set the tone for Galatasaray’s dominance.
This performance is part of a strong season for Osimhen. He has now registered 17 goal contributions (13 goals and 4 assists) in the Super Lig and 27 in 31 appearances across all competitions.
