Kartal's derby XI is nearly set, three spots still open
İsmail Kartal has most of his team for Galatasaray away. Three positions are still undecided (2).
That is the only real team news before Monday's trip, which kicks off at 19:30 CET. Fenerbahçe go in third on 16 points from eight games, with a +16 goal difference.
Form reads W W L W D. The L is that 6–0 at Aston Villa on October 14. The bounce back was Fenerbahçe 3–0 Alanyaspor on October 17, then Fenerbahçe 2–2 Slavia Prague on October 20.
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Buruk has already set Galatasaray's plan
Okan Buruk gave his squad a morale talk before the derby and has laid out his plan to win it at home (3).
Whatever Kartal has hidden in those three open spots, the other bench is not arriving blind.
Yıldırım promises the title, and says he is gone in May
Aziz Yıldırım told the Yüksek Divan Kurulu that Fenerbahçe will be champions. He also said he is leaving.
"Bir daha ben Divan Kuruluna gelmeyeceğim. Sizlere saygı duyuyorum. Ben, mayıs ayından sonra yokum. Bir daha bu kulübün içine gelmem" (4).
Translation: he will not come to the Divan again, he respects them, and he is gone after May. He backed İsmail Kartal, and Şekip Mosturoğlu was part of the same meeting (4).
Lukaku is staying put
Romelu Lukaku is not going back to Anderlecht before 2028 (5) (6).
He intends to see out his Fenerbahçe contract rather than cut it short for an early return to Belgium.
Oğuz Aydın: the board has made its call
Fenerbahçe management has moved on Oğuz Aydın. Aston Villa are watching the winger (1).
The board has acted before the Premier League interest turns into a bid.
Atlético Madrid warming up for Europe
Atletico Madrid 1–0 Deportivo in La Liga week 10, with Julián Álvarez scoring (7).
They are your Champions League opponents, and they are winning without conceding.
Fan reactions
The Galatasaray side of the city is doing most of the talking. One viral thread claims İsmail Kartal will resign if Galatasaray win, while others work through whether their centre-back pair can live with Fenerbahçe's strikers. There is also chatter about Wilfried Singo asking to start the derby, and about a planned 75,000-seat Istanbul stadium for Euro 2032.
