Victor Osimhen scored the only goal as Galatasaray defeated Besiktas 1-0 in a fiercely contested Istanbul derby on Saturday, ending the hosts’ 18-match unbeaten run in a battle that carried extra significance as it pitted Super Eagles vice-captain Osimhen against his national team skipper Wilfred Ndidi.Osimhen’s first-half header secured the win, stretching the league leaders’ advantage at the top of the Turkish Super Lig to seven points.The Nigerian striker, who has been in irresistible form since making his move to Galatasaray permanent last summer, met a precise cross from Leroy Sane in the 39th minute with a diving header to score his 11th league goal of the season and settle a derby that doubled as a personal duel between the two Super Eagles leaders.The goal also extended Osimhen’s goal contribution streak to eight consecutive league appearances, a run that includes eight goals and four assists and equals the longest such sequence of his professional career, previously achieved during his prolific spell with Napoli between January and February 2023.Across all competitions this season, the 27-year-old has now recorded 18 goals and six assists in 26 appearances for the Istanbul giants.
Galatasaray’s task became significantly harder in the 62nd minute when Sane was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to 10 men and inviting Besiktas to press for an equaliser.Ndidi was at the heart of everything as the hosts pushed forward, delivering two tackles, four clearances and an 85 per cent pass completion rate in a match that resembled a street fight. The Super Eagles captain came closest to levelling in the 72nd minute, unleashing a long-range effort that forced goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir into a full-stretch save, but the ball went wide.
Cakir was outstanding throughout the second half as Besiktas created numerous chances in search of an equaliser, and Galatasaray held firm to claim all three points.The result moves Galatasaray to 61 points from 25 matches, seven points clear of second-placed Fenerbahce, who have a game in hand. For Besiktas, who remain fourth, the defeat ends a run that had been months in the making and dealt a significant blow to their European qualification ambitions.
