Ahead of the €643 Million Derby: Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe's Most Valuable Players

Matchweek 9 of the Süper Lig will stage one of the biggest rivalries in Turkish football. Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe meet at RAMS Park in a blockbuster derby that will have a direct bearing on the title race.

Both sides are preparing for the derby with key absences. Galatasaray will be without Rafael Leão, who has a market value of €40 million, due to a groin injury. On the Fenerbahçe side, the injuries to Marco Asensio and Nathan Aké stand out. Asensio, who underwent surgery for a cartilage lesion in his left knee, is expected to be sidelined for around 3 months. Aké, who was injured in the match against Slavia Prague, has been diagnosed with a moderate strain and oedema in his right hamstring, and the Dutch defender is expected to miss around 3 weeks. Mert Müldür and Jayden Oosterwolde are also on Fenerbahçe's injury list.

A tactical battle awaits on the touchline as well. Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk and Fenerbahçe head coach İsmail Kartal will once again go head to head. In his career, Okan Buruk has recorded 10 wins, 4 draws and 10 defeats in 24 matches against Fenerbahçe. İsmail Kartal, meanwhile, has 5 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats in 13 matches against Galatasaray. In the 9 meetings between the two coaches, İsmail Kartal has won 4 and Okan Buruk 3, with 2 ending in draws.

Recent meetings between the arch-rivals paint a balanced picture. Their league clash in December 2025 ended 1-1, while Fenerbahçe won 2-0 in the Turkish Super Cup in January 2026. In the most recent meeting, in April 2026, Galatasaray beat their rivals 3-0.

In the title race, Galatasaray top the table with 19 points from 8 matches. Fenerbahçe, on 16 points, are third and keeping up the chase. The 3-point gap raises the stakes considerably: Galatasaray aim to stretch their lead to 6 points, while Fenerbahçe hope to win away and draw level with their rivals.

In terms of squad value, fans are also in for a clash of giants. Galatasaray's total squad value stands at €382 million, while Fenerbahçe's is €261 million. In a derby with a combined value of €642.7 million, Galatasaray come out ahead by around €120 million.

The most valuable player across both squads is Galatasaray's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. The star forward, with a market value of €65 million, has already contributed 6 goals and 3 assists in the league this season. Osimhen will also be his team's biggest weapon in the derby.