Ucl return in Turin keeps Galatasaray juggling Osimhen doubts and Icardi strain after Konyaspor shock
Galatasaray’s 2-0 defeat away to Konyaspor ended a 10-match unbeaten run and reverberated into the ucl return leg with Juventus, intensifying scrutiny on Victor Osimhen’s omission and Mauro Icardi’s early substitution. The loss tightened the Süper Lig standings and shifted momentum in a pivotal week for both domestic and European ambitions.
Ucl return in Turin: Osimhen’s availability and the Juventus tie
Galatasaray travel to the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin for the return leg after a 5-2 first-leg victory in Istanbul. The first leg had seen Juventus lead 2-1 at half-time before a red card for Juan Cabal swung the game, contributing to the 5-2 outcome. Osimhen did not score in that first leg but was active defensively, stealing the ball twice and providing assists. He rested over the weekend because of a knee issue, later saying his knee was fine, that he had a little pain which kept him out of the league match, and that the medical staff had him back with the squad and ready for Juventus. The return leg is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20. 00 GMT (21. 00 CET).
Konyaspor shock ends 10-match unbeaten run
At Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium (also written MEDAŞ Konya Metropolitan Stadium), Adil Demirbağ opened the scoring in the 75th minute and Blaz Kramer added a second six minutes later to secure a 2-0 home win. The defeat snapped Galatasaray’s 10-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and handed Fenerbahçe renewed belief that the summit is within reach.
Why Osimhen was left out and what followed
Osimhen, who arrived last summer in a 75-million-euro deal that shattered Turkish transfer records and is committed to the club until 2029, was not included in the matchday squad. The club described the omission officially as a precaution because of right knee discomfort. The fuller account states that Osimhen personally informed head coach Okan Buruk he was experiencing pain and did not want to risk aggravating it ahead of the decisive return leg in Turin; that conversation shaped the selection decision. There were reports that Osimhen had not yet received his January and February salaries, despite a 21 million euros net annual package, a delay that raised questions about morale. While teammates trained the following day outdoors, Osimhen worked individually in the gym, underlining the club’s priority to preserve him for Europe rather than gamble on a domestic fixture that proved costly.
Icardi’s half: fitness, selection and criticism
Mauro Icardi, the 32-year-old Argentine who has been central to Galatasaray’s attacking identity since 2022, struggled with stiffness in his back and neck during the final training session before the trip to Konya and cut that session short, casting doubt over his readiness. With Osimhen unavailable and limited alternatives, Buruk made six changes to his starting XI and opted to start Icardi as the lone striker— a choice described as born more of necessity than confidence. From the opening whistle Icardi lacked his usual sharpness, finding it difficult to press, link play or threaten in behind. Buruk withdrew Icardi after 45 subdued minutes, a substitution that drew swift criticism from commentators who were unaware of the physical context surrounding his selection.
Title race impact and standings
The defeat tightened the Süper Lig standings. Galatasaray remain top on 55 points after 23 matches but the gap has narrowed. Fenerbahçe sit on 52 points from 22 games. Fenerbahçe, led by Domenico Tedesco, now have an opportunity to pull level; they remain unbeaten in domestic league play despite a bruising 3-0 home loss in the Europa League mid-week and face Kasımpaşa today, Monday, Feb. 23— a victory there would erase Galatasaray’s three-point lead entirely. Konyaspor’s victory lifted them up to 23 points and away from the relegation scrap.
Broader implications: squad management and immediate priorities
The loss underlined the difficulty of balancing domestic dominance with European ambition. Without their two primary goal threats at full capacity, the league leaders appeared blunt and predictable in the final third and Konyaspor capitalized late. Observers should note that the defeat was characterized less as unrest or dressing-room rebellion and more as an issue of timing, fitness management and the strain of competing on multiple fronts, as a squad built around high-profile — unclear in the provided context.
What to watch next
In the short term, attention focuses on the return leg in Turin and on whether Osimhen will be deployed after his gym work and public reassurance about the knee. Domestically, Fenerbahçe’s fixture at Kasımpaşa will be decisive for the title race dynamics, and Galatasaray must reconcile rotation and recovery choices as they chase a fourth consecutive league crown while their rival seeks to end a 12-year wait for the championship.
