Galatasaray vs Besiktas: Osimhen silenced as Gundogan rescues point for Cim-Bom in Istanbul derby

An Ilkay Gundogan goal in the second-half helped Galatasaray snatch a point in the Istanbul derby against Besiktas, despite a numerical disadvantage for two-thirds the game.

Tammy Abraham got the opener for the visitors, silencing Rams Park in the 12th minute. Galatasaray's woes were compounded when Davidson Sanchez was sent off in the 34th minute.

Victor Osimhen also teetered on the edge of a sending off, receiving a yellow for dissent just before halftime. Ilkay Gundogan grabbed an equaliser in the 55th minute, and the Cim-Bom managed to hold on to the point.

Beşiktaş struck first and with purpose. Around the 12th minute, Tammy Abraham was quickest to react as a loose ball fell inside the box. He bundled the rebound over the line to give the away side an early lead and a foothold in the derby. That finish settled the visitors and forced Galatasaray onto the back foot in the opening exchanges. 

The game’s turning point arrived before half-time when Davinson Sánchez was shown a straight red in the 34th minute for a professional last-man tackle. Galatasaray were down to ten men and had to reshuffle their approach. 

The sending-off changed the pattern of the match: Beşiktaş sat deeper, probing on the break, while Galatasaray tried to find control with one fewer defender. They then picked up more bookings when Osimhen got a yellow card that briefly threatened to unsettle him and his side. 

Playing a man short, Galatasaray kept plugging away and got their reward after the break. In the 55th minute, Lucas Torreira delivered the pass that put Ilkay Gündoğan into space; Gündoğan composed himself and finished to make it 1-1. 

From there, the match became a tactical scrap. Both coaches shuffled their benches; chances were sporadic, and the final quarter-hour fizzled into a series of late substitutions (Osimhen was replaced around the 86th minute, around the same time as Wilfred Ndidi, who had a quiet outing). 

The draw keeps Galatasaray in control at the top of the table. They now sit on 22 points from eight games, while Beşiktaş leave Rams Park with a useful point (13 points) but will feel they missed the chance to take all three after being ahead in bodies and on the scoreline for so long.