Ucl ripple: Osimhen omission and Icardi’s strain send shockwaves through Süper Lig title race

The weekend defeat that ended Galatasaray’s 10-match unbeaten run is already affecting who feels pressure first: the squad and its title bid. With the ucl return leg looming, the decision to leave Victor Osimhen out and to start — then withdraw — Mauro Icardi reshaped selection priorities and handed Fenerbahçe renewed belief at a pivotal moment.

Immediate impact on selection, morale and the run-in

Here’s the part that matters: Galatasaray’s loss away to Konyaspor did more than change a scoreline. It crystallized a short-term dilemma — protect your marquee forward for Europe or risk him in a domestic fixture — and exposed how thin alternatives became when both top attackers were compromised. The absence and the halftime withdrawal reduced attacking potency and invited late-game clinical finishing from Konyaspor.

Ucl return leg and the short timeline

Events are compressed. Galatasaray arrived at the weekend off the back of a 5-2 Champions League victory over Juventus in Istanbul; in that first leg Juventus had been 2-1 up at half-time and a red card for Juan Cabal shifted the game decisively. The return leg is scheduled for Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20. 00 GMT (21. 00 CET). The sequence — big European win, a rotated domestic line-up, then a damaging domestic defeat — frames immediate tactical and fitness choices for coach Okan Buruk.

• Champions League first leg: 5-2 win for Galatasaray (Istanbul), Juventus led 2-1 at half-time before a red card.
• Saturday: 2-0 defeat at Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium / MEDAŞ Konya Metropolitan Stadium (Adil Demirbağ 75', Blaz Kramer 81').
• Wednesday: Return leg at Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin, kickoff 20. 00 GMT (21. 00 CET).

Match specifics and the fitness thread

At the Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium, Adil Demirbağ struck in the 75th minute and Blaz Kramer added a second six minutes later. Victor Osimhen was not included in the matchday squad; the club described his omission as a precaution for right knee discomfort. The fuller account shows Osimhen personally told head coach Okan Buruk he was feeling pain and did not want to risk aggravating it ahead of the decisive return leg in Turin, a conversation that shaped the selection.

Mauro Icardi, the 32-year-old Argentine who has been central to Galatasaray’s attacking identity since 2022, had cut short the final training session before the trip after struggling with stiffness in his back and neck. With Osimhen unavailable and limited alternatives in the squad, Buruk started Icardi as the lone striker; his movement lacked sharpness and he was withdrawn at halftime. The substitution drew criticism from commentators who were unaware of the physical context behind the selection.

While teammates trained outdoors the following day, Osimhen worked individually in the gym — a clear signal that the priority was preserving him for European duties rather than risking further strain in a domestic match.

Standings, momentum and the title picture

The result tightened the Süper Lig table: Galatasaray sit on 55 points from 23 matches while Fenerbahçe have 52 points from 22 matches. Fenerbahçe, led by Domenico Tedesco, remain unbeaten in domestic league play despite a bruising 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League mid-week. They face Kasımpaşa on Monday, Feb. 23; a win would erase Galatasaray’s three-point lead and hand Fenerbahçe a clear momentum swing in the title chase. Galatasaray are pursuing a fourth consecutive league crown; Fenerbahçe aim to end a championship wait that has lasted more than a decade. Konyaspor’s victory moved them up to 23 points and away from the relegation scrap.

Takeaways and signals to monitor

• Squad management trade-offs are now public: the choice to sit Osimhen preserved him for Europe but left the domestic side vulnerable late in Konya.
• Fitness clarity on Icardi’s back/neck and on Osimhen’s right knee will determine whether Galatasaray can field both leading forwards at full capacity in Turin.
• Fenerbahçe’s upcoming result on Feb. 23 is a near-term signal that could change title momentum immediately.
• Financial and morale questions emerged after details surfaced that Osimhen had not yet received January and February salaries, despite a 21 million euros net annual package; those details raised additional unease inside the squad.

The real question now is how Buruk balances rotation with risk when Europe and the domestic title are both fragile priorities. What’s easy to miss is that this is not just a single tactical error — it’s the collision of scheduling, individual injury management and high-profile expectations that will define the next two weeks for Galatasaray.