Başakşehir 1 - 2 FT Galatasaray

Sané's Clinical Double Seals Galatasaray's Grip on Top Spot

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 95/100. VAR's intervention and Leroy Sané's ruthless finishing protected Galatasaray's unbeaten record; Başakşehir, meanwhile, surrendered critical points in their relegation battle.

The Turning Point: VAR's Decisive Strike

From the 45th minute, İlkay Gündoğan's assist found Sané to open the scoring—Galatasaray's intensity was unmistakable. But at 51 minutes, the match pivoted violently. Eldor Shomurodov's leveller was ruled out by VAR. That decision obliterated Başakşehir's momentum. Trailing 16th with just 7 points, the hosts needed that goal; Galatasaray, sitting 1st with 25 points and an 8-0-1 record, could not afford a slip.

Sané Strikes Twice in Four Minutes

By the 59th minute, Oğuz Kemen's cross had restored parity through Shomurodov. Then came the hammer: 61 minutes in, Gabriel Sara threaded the pass, and Sané made it 2-1. Two goals, 120 seconds—a masterclass in clinical finishing. Galatasaray fired 16 shots to Başakşehir's 5. Abdülkerim Bardakçı's defensive marshalling anchored the champions' control, his 7.6 rating a testament to their structural dominance.

Başakşehir's Title Dream Dies Quietly

The stakes here transcended a routine derby. Başakşehir arrived with one win, four draws, and four losses—a side drowning. VAR's cancellation was a psychological guillotine. Galatasaray's 22 goals for and just 4 against illustrates a chasm. This Istanbul Derby, once a balance of three lead changes, became a coronation. The upset factor evaporated the moment Sané's second effort hit the net.

Istanbul derby: leaders under hostile fire

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. Galatasaray’s flawless away run collides with Başakşehir’s desperate hunt for a first home win in an Istanbul derby loaded with pressure and pride.

The Setup

On 18 October 2025, the stadium stages a local clash that feels anything but routine. Başakşehir sit 9th with 16 points from 14 games, a mixed WLLWW run that screams inconsistency yet also resilience. The big problem: zero home wins from three attempts, a trend they can’t afford to extend against the league leaders.

Top of the table, Galatasaray arrive with 36 points from 15 matches, just one defeat and a huge +21 goal difference – numbers of a genuine title challenger. Their headline strength is away from home: four away games, four wins, a perfect record that turns this derby into a brutal examination of Başakşehir’s nerve.

There’s more than just narrative here. Together these sides are tracking towards around 3.2 goals per game, signalling a high-tempo contest. Yet defensively both have bite: Başakşehir concede only 0.7 per game, while Galatasaray haven’t let in a single goal on their travels. That tension between attacking ambition and defensive discipline will decide the Balance of this game.

Key Battle

The decisive duel has a clear face on each side. For Başakşehir, the reference point is Eldor Shomurodov, who has 3 goals and 1 assist in his last five matches. His movement into channels and ability to pin centre-backs offers the hosts a route out under pressure.

Opposite him stands Galatasaray’s ruthless finisher Mauro Icardi. With 4 goals in 5 matches and an average rating of 7.2, he’s the clearest match-winner on the pitch. Give him a yard in the box and Başakşehir’s normally tight back line can be undone with a single touch. How Shomurodov stretches the game versus how Icardi punishes any lapse will shape the Stakes on every transition.

Our Prediction

Expect Başakşehir to start on the front foot, pressing higher than usual to disrupt Galatasaray’s build-up and to harness the derby intensity. They should manufacture a couple of decent looks early, especially if Shomurodov can drag defenders into wide pockets.

But as the game settles, Galatasaray’s extra quality and structure should tell. Their patience in possession and sharp crossing game will increasingly pin Başakşehir back, inviting Icardi and the late runners into dangerous zones. Once the visitors break through, the hosts will be forced to open up, and that’s where the leaders’ counter-attacking edge becomes lethal.

Başakşehir have enough about them to find a goal, but sustaining concentration for 90 minutes against this level of attacking talent is a different task. We see Galatasaray pulling clear in the second half. Predicted script: Başakşehir 1-3 Galatasaray, a derby with chances both ways but ultimately controlled by the league leaders’ star power and away-game swagger.