Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray rivalry yields interesting facts, stats

By Suha Gur

ISTANBUL (AA) - One of the fiery football rivalries in the globe, the Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray fixtures have seen many interesting moments and statistics for 115 years as the Istanbul clubs are set for their 401st showdown in a Saturday derby at Fenerbahce's home.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray celebrated their 100th birthdays each in 2000s as they played against each other in the Turkish league, cup and super cup competitions for a very long time.

The matches between these two clubs are known as the Intercontinental derby as Fenerbahce is based on the Asian side of Istanbul, and Galatasaray is located on the Turkish metropolis' European side.

On Saturday evening, leaders and defending Turkish champions Galatasaray will visit second-place Fenerbahce at Ulker Stadium in Kadikoy as the match will kick off at 1700GMT.

Galatasaray, who signed Nigerian star Victor Osimhen from Napoli earlier September, have 15 points after winning five matches.

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce have 13 points before the derby. A highly-anticipated game will shape the league's top.

In head-to-head comparison, Fenerbahce won 149 matches. Meanwhile Galatasaray had 128 wins over their archrivals, and the clubs have drawn in 123 games. Fenerbahce scored 541 goals against Galatasaray.

In the meantime Galatasaray tallied 497 goals in the Fenerbahce derbies.

- 1st goals against each other

On Jan. 17, 1909, at the Pastor's Meadow, Galatasaray's Emin Bulent Serdaroglu scored the first goal in the first match between the two teams, that the Lions won 2-0.

Fenerbahce, which won an Istanbul League match 4-2 at the Union Club ground on Jan. 4, 1914, scored their first goal and secured their first win against Galatasaray in the eighth match of the rivalry, which was five years later.

Hasan Kamil Sporel scored the Yellow Canaries' first goal against Galatasaray in history.

- Longest winless streaks

After a 2-0 win on Nov. 20, 1949, Fenerbahce went 11 consecutive matches without a win but then they secured a victory against Galatasaray on Feb. 22, 1953 by 1-0 in a home match.

Following a 3-1 win on May 17, 1942, Galatasaray failed to take a win in 18 games but they have finally done it on Dec. 1, 1946 by 1-0.

- Derby's lowest, highest attendances

A number of 14 fans without tickets watched a 1922 derby, which went down in history books as the lowest attendance of a Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray confrontation.

Turkish referee Fethi Tahsin Basaran had to officiate the rain-hit match on Nov. 17, 1922 at Ittihat Field with an umbrella.

Fenerbahce won it by 3-0.

In the modern times, a Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce derby on Sept. 21, 2003 has been watched by 70,125 spectators at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium as it is still the record attendance in an Intercontinental derby.

Points were shared after a 2-2 draw.

- Top scorers

Fenerbahce's Zeki Riza Sporel scored the most goals in the rivalry, with 27 in 42 matches against Galatasaray.

With 24 goals, another Fenerbahce player, Alaattin Baydar, has been the second top scorer, while Fenerbahce's Lefter Kucukandonyadis had 20 goals, and Galatasaray legend Metin Oktay scored 19.

Tanju Colak, who has played for both clubs, scored 22 goals; 14 for Galatasaray and eight for Fenerbahce.

Meanwhile former Galatasaray and Türkiye goalkeeper Turgay Seren had the most derby appearances.

Seren played 55 derbies against Fenerbahce to be the record holder in this field.

- Goals galore in derbies

Galatasaray had the highest-scoring victory against Fenerbahce in history as the Lions took a 7-0 win in the Istanbul League on Feb. 12, 1911.

However in the modern times, 10-man Fenerbahce hammered Galatasaray 6-0 in a Turkish Super Lig match on Nov. 6, 2002. It is still one of the memorable matches in the Turkish football.

- Fenerbahce forfeit Turkish Super Cup in April

The 2023 Turkish Super Cup contest between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray on April 7 has been one of the interesting derbies as it ended very early after a walk off.

Galatasaray have been awarded a 3-0 win and the Super Cup after Fenerbahce U19 team walked off the pitch during the rearranged match in the Turkish southeastern province of Sanliurfa.

Fenerbahce, which fielded their youth team rather than stars to protest the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), withdrew after Galatasaray's Argentine star Mauro Icardi scored.

Before the derby, Fenerbahce requested TFF to postpone the Super Cup to a later date rather than in April as the Yellow Canaries had a busy fixture including a UEFA Conference League knockout stage match. But the Turkish FA rejected Fenerbahce's request.

The Super Cup had been originally scheduled on Dec. 29, 2023 in Saudi Arabia. But Fenerbahce and Galatasaray did not play the match at Riyadh's Al-Awwal Park.

It was postponed due to "some problems in the organization."

Fenerbahce and Galatasaray left Saudi Arabia without playing the game after the negotiations between the Turkish football body, both clubs, and the Saudi authorities failed.

*Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp​​​​​​​