Galatasaray start Icardi and Osimhen together for Eyüpspor test
Galatasaray roll out a headline-grabbing front line as they host Eyüpspor in Week 22 of the Süper Lig on Friday, February 13, at 12: 00 p. m. ET. With a Champions League fixture looming in four days, the league’s most prolific attack doubles down, pairing Mauro Icardi with Victor Osimhen from the opening whistle at RAMS Park.
Kickoff and venue
The match kicks off Friday at 12: 00 p. m. ET at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park in Istanbul. It’s a pivotal date on a crowded calendar for the hosts, who have navigated an intense run of fixtures since early January and aim to widen the gap at the top end of the table.
Buruk’s message and selection calls
Head coach Okan Buruk struck a respectful tone before the game, underscoring Eyüpspor’s ability to punish any dip in focus. He emphasized the dual objective of a convincing performance and three points, while acknowledging the need for rotation during a packed schedule. The coach confirmed Leroy Sané completed his first full session with the team this week but is not included in the matchday squad as he builds fitness. With fixture congestion in mind, Buruk signaled that selection tweaks will continue from match to match.
Galatasaray XI features Icardi–Osimhen partnership
In a major attacking statement, Galatasaray deploy both star strikers from the start. The confirmed lineup reads: Uğurcan; Boey, Davinson Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren; İlkay Gündoğan, Mario Lemina; Yunus Akgün, Christoph Lang; Mauro Icardi, Victor Osimhen.
Abdülkerim Bardakcı starts despite a yellow-card tightrope; another booking would rule the defender out of next week’s league trip to Konyaspor. The hosts arrive with momentum after back-to-back league clean sheets and remain the division’s top scorers. Defensively, they have conceded among the fewest goals in the league this season.
Eyüpspor team news and approach
Eyüpspor’s confirmed XI: Jankat; Talha Ülvan, Jérôme Onguéné, Bedirhan, Umut Meraş; Jakub Łęgowski; Emre Akbaba, Baran Ali Gezek; Lenny Pintor, Angel Torres; Umut Bozok.
Forward Ahmed Kutucu remains sidelined under concussion protocols and does not feature. Eyüpspor have shown tactical flexibility and resilience amid recent squad changes, and their staff have leaned into set-pieces and quick transitions to unsettle opponents in away fixtures. Expect compact spacing out of possession and a bid to isolate Bozok and Pintor on early counters.
Match officials and VAR crew
Çağdaş Altay takes charge in the center. The video operations are led by VAR official Abdullah Buğra Taşkınsoy, with Mehmet Salih Mazlum serving as AVAR.
Form guide and what’s at stake
Galatasaray enter on the back of emphatic league wins, including a 4–0 over Kayserispor and a 3–0 against Çaykur Rizespor, tightening their defensive standards after a stretch in which they had allowed goals in most outings. Their 50-goal tally to this point underscores the firepower now amplified by the Icardi–Osimhen tandem. With continental duty just around the corner, a controlled, high-level display would reinforce confidence and keep pressure on their closest domestic rivals.
For Eyüpspor, this is a proving-ground fixture against the pace-setters. The visitors must manage long spells without the ball while staying clinical on the break. If they can survive the early surge—particularly service into Icardi and the penetrative runs of Osimhen—Eyüpspor’s chances hinge on disciplined lines and opportunism in transition. Any lapse, as recent opponents have learned, is likely to be punished swiftly by the hosts’ front line.
With the atmosphere primed and both teams naming adventurous options in attack, the matchup sets up as a high-stakes, high-tempo affair—one that could ripple across the title picture as the season enters its decisive stretch.
