Interesting Facts from the Fenerbahce – Galatasaray Rivalry:

The rivalry between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, known as the “Contrasting Brothers,” has been a defining feature of Turkish sports for over 115 years. As the two teams prepare to face off for the 401st time in the upcoming Trendyol Süper Lig match at Ülker Stadium, here are some fascinating moments from their storied history:

First Goal: The first goal in the rivalry was scored by Galatasaray’s Emin Bülent Serdaroğlu.

First Match: Galatasaray won the first-ever match on January 17, 1909, at “Papazın Çayırı,” 2-0, and didn’t concede a goal in the first seven matches.

“One-Minute Derby” in Şanlıurfa: A TFF Super Cup match between the two teams lasted only one minute. Fenerbahçe fielded their U-19 team, and Galatasaray took the lead in the 1st minute with a goal from Icardi. Fenerbahçe’s players were pulled from the pitch by management, resulting in a 3-0 forfeit win for Galatasaray.

Fenerbahce’s First Victory: Fenerbahçe had to wait five years for their first win, securing a 4-2 victory in the 8th match on January 4, 1914. Hasan Kamil Sporel scored Fenerbahce’s first goal against Galatasaray.

Smallest and Largest Crowds: The match with the fewest spectators took place on November 17, 1922, under heavy rain, with only 14 people attending. The largest crowd was recorded on September 21, 2003, with 70,125 spectators at Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

Top Scorers: Zeki Rıza Sporel from Fenerbahçe leads the scoring in the rivalry with 27 goals. He is followed by Alaattin Baydar with 24 goals. Galatasaray’s Metin Oktay scored 19 goals in the rivalry.

Turgay Şeren’s Record: Legendary Galatasaray goalkeeper Turgay Şeren holds the record for most appearances in the rivalry, with 55 matches against Fenerbahçe.

Years of Drought: Fenerbahçe went 11 matches without a win against Galatasaray, while Galatasaray went 18 matches winless against Fenerbahçe.

19 Different Stadiums: Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray have played their matches across 19 different stadiums, including venues in Istanbul, Ankara, and abroad.

Players Who Played for Both Teams: Several players have had the opportunity to play for both clubs, including Tanju Çolak, Emre Belözoğlu, Caner Erkin, and Burak Yılmaz.

Four-Goal Performances: Several players, including Galatasaray’s Metin Oktay and Fenerbahçe’s Zeki Rıza Sporel, have scored four goals in a single match in this rivalry.

Most Common Result: The 1-0 scoreline has been the most common result in the rivalry, occurring 75 times. The 2-1 result has occurred 49 times.

Biggest Wins: Galatasaray’s largest victory was a 7-0 win on February 12, 1911, while Fenerbahçe’s biggest win was a 6-0 triumph on November 6, 2002.

Highest-Scoring Matches: The highest-scoring matches without penalties were two 4-4 draws, one in 1983 and the other in 2001.

Famous Fights and Interrupted Matches: On February 23, 1934, a league match was abandoned due to a brawl between players and fans. The aftermath saw 17 players suspended.

Shared Sportsmanship: Despite the fierce rivalry, there have been moments of sportsmanship, including a match in 1914 when Fenerbahçe offered to postpone a match due to Galatasaray’s injuries. Galatasaray declined and later won 6-1.

Shared Accommodations: In the early years of the rivalry, players from both teams even shared the same rented accommodations and had friendly interactions off the pitch.

Historical Penalty Incident: In 1925, during a match for the Vatan Gazetesi Cup, Fenerbahçe’s Cafer Çağatay deliberately missed a penalty after part of the stadium collapsed during the match.

Joint “FenerSaray” Team: In 1934, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray formed a joint team called “FenerSaray” to play a match against a foreign team.

Fair Play Gesture: Galatasaray’s former president Özhan Canaydın was praised for his sportsmanship when he applauded Fenerbahçe’s goals during their 6-0 victory in 2002, earning him the 2002 World Fair Play Award.