Ucl return and ucl balancing act as Konyaspor stuns Galatasaray
Galatasaray’s 2-0 defeat at Konyaspor ended a 10-match unbeaten run and has sharpened scrutiny of the club’s preparations for the ucl return in Turin. The result, and the circumstances around Victor Osimhen’s omission and Mauro Icardi’s halftime withdrawal, arrived days after the 5-2 Champions League win over Juventus and have immediate domestic consequences.
How the match unfolded
At Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium the game stayed goalless until late. Adil Demirbağ struck in the 75th minute and Blaz Kramer added a second six minutes later, sealing a 2-0 victory that stunned the visitors. The scoreline tightened the Süper Lig standings and handed Fenerbahçe renewed belief that the summit is within reach.
Ucl return in Turin
The defeat arrived with a decisive European tie looming: the return leg kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20. 00 GMT (21. 00 CET). Galatasaray had won the first leg 5-2 in Istanbul but did not score in that match; they had trailed 2-1 at half-time in that first leg before the match turned after a red card for Juan Cabal. In Istanbul Osimhen’s high pressing role saw him steal the ball twice and provide assists while harrying Juventus defenders.
Osimhen’s omission and details
Victor Osimhen was not included in the matchday squad. He arrived last summer in a 75-million-euro ($88 million) deal that shattered Turkish transfer records and is contracted to the club until 2029. Officially the club described his absence as a precaution because of right knee discomfort, and Osimhen said, “My knee is fine, thank you. ” He also said, “I have a little pain in my knee, that is the reason why I didn’t play the last league game, but thanks to the medical team, I am back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve. ”
The fuller account in the match build-up states that Osimhen personally told head coach Okan Buruk he was experiencing pain and did not want to risk aggravating it ahead of the decisive return leg in Turin, and that conversation shaped the selection decision. Teammates trained outdoors the day after the defeat while Osimhen worked individually in the gym, underscoring the club’s priority to preserve him for Europe rather than gamble on the domestic fixture.
Turkish media have reported that Osimhen had not yet received his January and February salaries despite a 21 million euros net annual package; that delay raised questions about morale even as the coaching staff called the omission a routine precaution during a busy February schedule.
Icardi’s fitness and withdrawal
Mauro Icardi, the 32-year-old Argentine who has been central to Galatasaray’s attacking identity since 2022, had struggled with stiffness in his back and neck during the final training session before the trip to Konya and cut that session short. With Osimhen unavailable and limited alternatives, Okan Buruk started Icardi as the lone striker. From the opening whistle his movement lacked its usual sharpness; he found 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 and standings
The loss leaves Galatasaray on 55 points after 23 matches while Fenerbahçe sit on 52 points after 22 games. The defeat narrowed the gap and gave Fenerbahçe, led by Domenico Tedesco, a clear opportunity to pull level: Fenerbahçe face Kasımpaşa today, Monday, Feb. 23, and a victory would erase Galatasaray’s three-point lead. Fenerbahçe had suffered a bruising 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League mid-week but remain unbeaten in domestic league play. Konyaspor’s victory moved them up to 23 points and away from the relegation scrap, shifting momentum in the Süper Lig title race.
The coverage also notes photographs and match references in the file with dates including September 14, 2024; November 7, 2024; and a February 17 match reference. The first-leg Champions League encounter featured a 2-1 Juventus lead at half-time and was turned by a red card for Juan Cabal, a sequence that left the Bianconeri with a mountain to climb despite the 5-2 scoreline in Istanbul.
The defeat, the match reporting concluded, was less about unrest or dressing-room rebellion than about timing, fitness management and the strain of balancing domestic dominance with European ambition, as a squad built around high-profile unclear in the provided context.
Osimhen has also said, in the wider match build-up, that “Defence starts from the attack, ” and underlined that the club is aiming to make history by eliminating Juventus, stressing that it is not just about one player and praising the squad for helping put the club where it should be.
For Galatasaray the immediate task is clear: manage fitness, manage selection and reconcile European priorities with domestic demands as the title race tightens.
Closing
The result at MEDAŞ Konya Metropolitan Stadium has reshaped the Süper Lig picture and left Galatasaray with tangible questions over selection and recovery ahead of the Ucl return fixture in Turin.
