Galatasaray wrapped up the 2024-25 Süper Lig title in fashion, overpowering Kayserispor 3-0 at a packed RAMS Park to safe the membership’s record-extending twenty fifth league crown and with it, the historic proper to put on a fifth star on their jersey.
With two video games nonetheless remaining, the Lions entered matchweek 36 eight factors forward of bitter rivals Fenerbahçe and wanted only a draw to seal the deal.
But head coach Okan Buruk’s males confirmed no indicators of slowing down, delivering a commanding efficiency in entrance of their dwelling followers to clinch the crown for a 3rd consecutive yr.
Victor Osimhen broke the impasse within the twenty sixth minute, scoring his twenty fifth objective of the marketing campaign.
The Nigerian star’s strike was given a heartwarming twist because it was introduced over the stadium loudspeakers by his 3-year-old daughter Hailey.
Just three minutes later, Barış Alper Yılmaz doubled the lead, taking his Süper Lig tally to 12 objectives this season.
The 24-year-old celebrated by filming himself with a cellphone handed from the bench – incomes a yellow card for the gesture.
Despite lacking possibilities within the second half, Galatasaray by no means allowed Kayserispor a manner again.
In the 89th minute, veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera stepped up and buried a penalty, netting his second-ever objective for the membership – virtually 13 years after his first in opposition to Manisaspor. It marked a fairytale ending to a flawless night in Istanbul.
Galatasaray’s title triumph comes on the heels of their Turkish Cup victory earlier within the week, the place they toppled Trabzonspor to finish a uncommon home double.
The Lions had began the season with a stunning 5-1 defeat to Beşiktaş within the Turkish Super Cup, however rebounded impressively to assert each main trophies.
Statistically, the membership has been almost unstoppable.
Buruk’s males are unbeaten of their final 17 dwelling league matches and have received 9 straight throughout all competitions since their derby loss to Beşiktaş in March.
In that stretch, Galatasaray scored 27 objectives whereas conceding simply 4.
This marks a major milestone in Turkish soccer historical past, as Galatasaray turns into the primary group to earn the fitting to show 5 stars on their equipment – every star representing 5 league titles.
Their tally of 25 championships places them properly forward of their conventional rivals: Fenerbahçe has 19, Beşiktaş 16, Trabzonspor seven, whereas Bursaspor and Başakşehir every have one.
The title additionally ensures Galatasaray a direct ticket to the league part of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, the place they’re going to as soon as once more fly the Turkish flag on Europe’s greatest membership stage.
The night wasn’t with out playful drama.
Mauro Icardi, out for the season resulting from damage, was seen joking with workers behind the bench, gesturing that he was prepared to come back on after Osimhen briefly limped off.
Meanwhile, in a cheeky swipe at Fenerbahçe coach Jose Mourinho, Galatasaray workers flashed a laptop computer display screen that includes the phrase “The Real One” beneath 5 golden stars, referencing the Portuguese supervisor’s notorious “The Special One” label and a previous incident the place he confirmed a VAR picture on his personal system.
Source: www.dailysabah.com