Ucl return in Turin looms as Osimhen omission and Icardi strain reshape Süper Lig title race

Galatasaray’s shock 2-0 defeat at Konyaspor has left the club juggling domestic damage and a crucial ucl return leg after Victor Osimhen was omitted from the squad and Mauro Icardi was taken off at halftime. The result ended a 10-match unbeaten run and tightened a Süper Lig title race that now hands Fenerbahçe renewed belief.

Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium: Demirbağ and Kramer decide the contest

At the Medaş Konya Büyükşehir Stadium Adil Demirbağ broke the deadlock in the 75th minute and Blaz Kramer added a second six minutes later to secure a famous home win. The 2-0 scoreline not only ended Galatasaray’s 10-match unbeaten run across all competitions but also tightened the Süper Lig standings and handed Fenerbahçe renewed belief that the summit is within reach.

Osimhen left out amid right knee discomfort, contract and pay questions

Victor Osimhen was not included in the matchday squad; the club described his omission as a precaution because of right knee discomfort. Context shows he personally informed head coach Okan Buruk that 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. Osimhen arrived last summer in a 75-million-euro transfer that shattered Turkish records, is committed to the club until 2029, and — Turkish media said — had not yet received his January and February salaries despite a 21 million euros net annual package. Coaching staff stressed it was a routine precaution during a busy February schedule; while teammates trained outdoors the following day Osimhen worked individually in the gym, underlining the club’s priority to preserve him for European fixtures.

Icardi’s back and neck stiffness forced an early withdrawal

Mauro Icardi, the 32-year-old Argentine who has been central to Galatasaray’s attacking identity since 2022, suffered stiffness in his back and neck during the final training session before the trip to Konya and was forced to cut that session short. With Osimhen unavailable and limited alternatives in the squad, Okan Buruk started Icardi as the lone striker; from the opening whistle his movement lacked sharpness, he found it difficult to press, link play or threaten in behind, and Buruk withdrew him after 45 subdued minutes. The substitution drew swift criticism from commentators who were unaware of the physical issues that had preceded selection.

Süper Lig title race: points, fixtures and shifting momentum

The defeat leaves Galatasaray on 55 points after 23 matches while Fenerbahçe sit on 52 points from 22 games, narrowing the gap at the top. Fenerbahçe, led by Domenico Tedesco, now have a clear chance to pull level; despite a bruising 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League mid-week, the Yellow Canaries remain unbeaten in domestic league play and face Kasımpaşa today, Monday, Feb. 23 — a victory that would erase Galatasaray’s three-point lead entirely. Konyaspor’s victory moved them up to 23 points and away from the relegation scrap, and the shifting momentum has focused attention on Istanbul’s Intercontinental Derby rivals while leaving Okan Buruk’s side with little room for error as they pursue a fourth consecutive title.

Ucl return leg in Turin: Osimhen insists his knee is fine and Galatasaray will 'take the fight'

With a Ucl return leg scheduled in Turin, Osimhen has given an update on his knee and warned that Galatasaray will "take the fight" to Juventus despite the 5-2 first-leg scoreline in Istanbul. The return match kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20. 00 GMT (21. 00 CET). Juventus had taken a 2-1 lead into half-time in the first leg and the Juan Cabal red card proved disastrous; Osimhen did not score in that game but his high pressing saw him steal the ball twice and provide assists while constantly harassing Juventus defenders.

Asked about the knee, Osimhen said, "My knee is fine, thank you, " and explained he had a little pain that kept him out of the last league game but, thanks to the medical team, he was back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve. He emphasised that defence starts from the attack, saying the forwards must press, and singled out Kenan Yildiz and Conceicao as players the team must try to block. Osimhen also stressed that the club can make history by eliminating Juventus and praised the rest of the squad for their contribution to the club’s European form.

Contextual images in the material showed Osimhen during a Turkish Super League match on Sept. 14, 2024 against Rizespor and celebrating in a Europa League match on Nov. 7, 2024 against Tottenham; a separate February 17 caption in the provided context was unclear in the provided context.

What the defeat reveals about priorities and pressure

Observers in the supplied context framed the defeat less as evidence of unrest or dressing-room rebellion than as a product of timing, fitness management and the strain of balancing domestic dominance with European ambition. One contextual piece concluded the loss was connected to those strains and added that the squad is built around high-profile — unclear in the provided context. In practical terms, Galatasaray’s decision to prioritise player fitness for Europe over a domestic fixture has produced immediate domestic consequences, and the club now faces a congested crossroads in both the Süper Lig and the ucl campaign.