With two games remaining in the 2024–2025 season, Galatasaray were crowned champions after securing the Turkish league title for the third consecutive year last night, defeating Kayserispor in an unforgettable match in Istanbul and earning the exclusive privilege of displaying five stars (one for each league title) on their jerseys.
The Lions only needed one point to mathematically qualify as champions, and they had everything in their favour: a virtually unbeatable record in the league, a match at their RAMS Park stadium in Istanbul packed with their fans, Argentine star Mauro Icardi accompanying them from the stands, and a modest Bellona Kayserispor team that was unlikely to cause them any trouble. Despite everything, Okan Buruk’s team never showed any signs of complacency and put on a show in front of their home crowd, which was crowned with a totally unexpected ending.
Victor Osimhen, the team’s star player since joining Galatasaray in September last year, opened the scoring in the 26th minute from a corner kick, just two minutes after another goal of his had been disallowed for offside. The Nigerian striker celebrated the goal as a very special moment, as it was announced over the stadium loudspeakers by his daughter Hailey. Just three minutes later, taking advantage of a mistake from a Kayserispor free kick, Barış Alper Yılmaz found himself alone in front of the goalkeeper and scored the second goal, celebrating his 12th goal this season with a selfie with all his teammates… Although the gesture earned him a yellow card.
Kayserispor tried several times to reduce the deficit, but Galatasaray’s superiority was evident and at times overwhelming, to which must be added several good performances – as we have come to expect – from their veteran goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera. It was precisely the Uruguayan goalkeeper who was the protagonist of a match ending that few could have expected and that gave an emotional touch to Galatasaray’s victory, when in the 83rd minute the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by the Kayserispor goalkeeper on the Spanish player Álvaro Morata.
The penalty, which was confirmed shortly afterwards by the VAR, was converted in the 89th minute by Muslera, who thus scored the second goal of his career, 13 years after he did so for the first time against Manisaspor. It was a final touch that his teammates and fans celebrated with jubilation, and a gesture towards the veteran goalkeeper that was even praised by the coach of his main rival, Portuguese José Mourinho.
Okan Buruk: ‘We have shown that we deserve to be champions’
‘Tonight we have once again shown that we deserve to be champions,’ Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk told the media. ‘First of all, I want to thank my players. We have worked hard together for a long time, and we have finally become champions. Earlier this week, we won the Turkish Cup. Winning two trophies in just four days is an incredible achievement for us.’
The truth is that Galatasaray has been unbeatable this season, literally. Buruk’s team has won 28 of its 34 matches and has only lost once, in the derby against Beşiktaş at the end of March. Much of the credit goes to Nigerian Osimhen: the striker, who arrived on loan from Napoli in September, has scored 25 league goals this season for the Istanbul side and 35 in all competitions for the club. Although Galatasaray are trying to keep Osimhen on a permanent basis, a price tag of €75 million stands in their way.
After winning this league title, Galatasaray becomes the first Turkish team in history to wear five stars on their shirt, representing the 25 times they have been crowned champions of the Turkish Super League, well ahead of their rivals: Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe have 19 titles, Beşiktaş 16, and Trabzonspor only seven. By winning the Turkish league, Okan Buruk’s side also automatically qualify for the Champions League.
Results of the 36th round of the Super League
ADANA DEMİRSPOR A.Ş. 0 – 5 ATAKAŞ HATAYSPOR
REEDER SAMSUNSPOR 1 – 0 NET GLOBAL SİVASSPOR
SİPAY BODRUM FK 1 – 1 TRABZONSPOR A.Ş.
GALATASARAY A.Ş. 3 – 0 BELLONA KAYSERİSPOR
FENERBAHÇE A.Ş. 2 – 1 İKAS EYÜPSPOR
CORENDON ALANYASPOR 1 – 1 BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş.
ONVO ANTALYASPOR 0 – 0 GAZİANTEP FUTBOL KULÜBÜ A.Ş.
ÇAYKUR RİZESPOR A.Ş. 6 – 3 GÖZTEPE A.Ş.
KASIMPAŞA A.Ş. 2 – 3 RAMS BAŞAKŞEHİR FUTBOL KULÜBÜ
Turkish league: standings
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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