Turkish football comes to a halt this Monday, February 24th with the highly anticipated intercontinental derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, a match you can follow on beIN SPORTS USA at 11:50 AM ET. Okan Buruk’s team arrives as the leader of the Süper Lig with 63 points, while José Mourinho’s squad, six points behind, is looking for a crucial win to stay in the title race. In their last five encounters, Cimbom has won three times, while the Yellow Canaries have only won once, adding extra pressure on the visitors.

Both teams are on similar runs. Galatasaray has won four consecutive league games, although their elimination from the Europa League has raised some doubts about their form in international competitions. On the other hand, Fenerbahçe is unbeaten in 2025 and recently qualified for the next round of the continental tournament, which boosts their confidence ahead of the derby. With key players on both sides, a high-intensity match is expected at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi.

Icardi vs Mourinho: The Rivalry at its Peak

The rivalry between José Mourinho and Mauro Icardi has reached new heights in Turkish football, especially ahead of the much-anticipated derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe this Monday. The tension started after an ironic post by Mourinho, who, after a Galatasaray victory, took the opportunity to criticize a play where Davinson Sánchez touched the ball with his hand, which the referee didn’t penalize. Mourinho compared the incident to the Handball World Cup and congratulated his country for reaching the semifinals, indirectly referring to Galatasaray.

Icardi quickly responded on social media, sharing mocking images, including a fictional book cover titled "The Crying One", parodying Mourinho’s famous nickname, "The Special One". The war of words continued, with Mourinho referring to Icardi as a "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time), suggesting he wasn’t worth commenting on, to which the Argentine forward replied with an image of a goat, referencing Mourinho’s criticism.

Foreign Referee to Avoid Controversy

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who officiated the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, will be in charge of the big Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, as reported by the Turkish Central Referee Committee.

The decision to bring in the Slovenian referee comes amid ongoing controversies in Turkish football regarding the quality of local refereeing and complaints from Fenerbahçe that local referees have been favoring Galatasaray this season.

Vincic, who also refereed the 2022 Europa League final, will be the first foreign referee to officiate a Süper Lig match since 1970. With all these factors, the Istanbul derby promises high drama both on and off the field. The race for the Süper Lig title is at stake, and the historic rivalry between these two Turkish giants guarantees an unforgettable spectacle. Don’t miss this thrilling match on beIN SPORTS USA this Monday, February 24th at 11:50 AM ET.