Galatasaray wins Turkish soccer league, edges city rival Fenerbahce on final day
Galatasaray fans cheer during a Turkish Super Lig soccer match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Credit: AP
ISTANBUL — Galatasaray clinched the Turkish league title on Sunday, edging city rival Fenerbahce with a record total of 102 points.
Galatasaray needed just a point in its final game at Konyaspor, and won 3-1 with talismanic striker Mauro Icardi scoring twice to raise his league-leading total to 25.
Fenerbahce won 6-0 at home to last-place Istanbulspor to finish three points back on 99, the second-highest tally ever for a 38-game season in the league.
Fenerbahce had delayed the title celebration by one week when it won 1-0 at Galatasaray last Sunday — the only points the champions dropped at home all season.
Fenerbahce now has been league runner-up six times since its last title in 2014. The team ended 32 points ahead of third-place Trabzonspor.
Galatasaray will enter the Champions League in the qualifying playoffs round in August, needing to beat one opponent to advance to the expanded 36-team league phase. Fenerbahce goes into the second qualifying round starting in July needing to beat three opponents.
