Jose Mourinho Tactics At Fenerbahçe Vs Okan Buruk Tactics At Galatasaray 2024/2025 – Tactical Breakdown

The 2023/24 season in the Turkish Süper Lig saw one of the closest title races we have seen in European football over the last couple of years.

The contestants were from different sides of the Bosporus in Istanbul: Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe.

Both teams were incredibly dominant throughout the season.

With very dedicated fans on both sides, the rich history of the rivalry was evident during the season, culminating in an emotional last matchday when Galatasaray secured the championship.

Fenerbahçe, under coach İsmail Kartal, scored 99 goals in 38 games and collected 99 points on their way to second place.

Galatasaray and manager Okan Buruk managed to collect even more points, cracking the barrier of 100 points with 102 points and only 26 goals conceded.

For Fenerbahçe, this was enough reason to make a big splash this summer.

After firing their head coach, Fener and President Ali Koc were set on making a big move to boost their next campaign.

They wanted to overtake Gala for good this season.

In June 2024, Fener brought in the polarising figure of José Mourinho as their head coach.

Mourinho is one of the most decorated coaches in modern football history.

The eccentric Portuguese is not only known for his manner of dealing with the press but also for winning multiple titles during his stints with FC Porto, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

Looking back at last season, Fenerbahçe lost only one game, and Galatasaray lost only two.

This season, after five matchday, under Okan Buruks tactics, Galatasaray is again leading the league with five wins, with Fener already dropping two points.

Fener are in second place with 13 points from five games.

With both teams rarely dropping points, these direct duels will be crucial in deciding the 2024/25 Süper Lig winner.

When both teams face off in Ülker Stadyumu on Saturday, the title could be a motivating factor already in the first couple of games of the season.

In this tactical analysis piece in the form of a tactical preview, we will provide an analysis of what both teams have tried to do so far this season and how they will perform in the most important game in Turkish football so far this term.

Players & Formations

First, we will examine the teams, the formations and the players the managers will probably use in the game.

Fenerbahçe Formation Under Jose Mourinho Tactics

After managing to get the big-name head coach he wanted in José Mourinho, Ali Koc went on to use the leverage and pull this move gave him on the transfer market this summer to sign some big names for his team as well, especially after losing Ferdi Kadıoğlu to Brighton after the Euros.

Namely, Fener managed to sign Youssef En-Nesyri from Sevilla, Çağlar Söyüncü from Atletico Madrid and loaned out former Newcastle United standout Allan Saint-Maximin from Saudi side Al-Ahli.

Another big signing was the loan of Morocco international Sofyan Amrabat from AC Florenz, who joined Mourinhos squad late into the transfer window.

In terms of formations, the Portuguese gaffer had his team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout every game of the season so far.

In goal, Croatian international Dominik Livaković has been Feners clear-cut number one this season and will also start against Galatasaray.

In defence, considering the injury of right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, we can expect a back four consisting of Jayden Oosterwolde on the left, Çağlar Söyüncü and Alexander Djiku as the two centre-halves, and Mert Müldür filling in on the right-hand side as he did in the last couple of games.

In midfield, Mourinho will likely continue easing Amrabat into the team and not start him in the intercontinental derby immediately, so former United midfielder Fred and Ismail Yüksek will most likely form the double pivot, with Sebastian Szymański starting in attacking midfield.

On the wings, Allan Saint-Maximin on the left and experienced Dušan Tadić on the right will form Mourinhos tandem in attack, with captain Edin Džeko starting as the lone striker up front.

Galatasaray Formation Under Okan Buruk Tactics

Galatasaray have had a very busy transfer window as well.

After losing a couple of key players, including Wilfried Zaha, in the last week of the transfer window, Kerem Aktürkoğlu also decided to leave the club and join Benfica on a permanent transfer.

Left-back Derrick Köhn left the team after just six months to go back home and signed for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Gala were also active on the buying side of things, signing multiple players to strengthen the squad.

They signed Gabriel Sara from Norwich for their midfield, highly talented right-back Elias Jelert from FC Copenhagen for their defence, and Michy Batshuayi on a free transfer from Fenerbahçe for their defence.

Late into the transfer window, Gala made a couple of splash signings, signing Ismail Jakobs from AS Monaco as a replacement for Köhn and Rolland Sallai from SC Freiburg as a replacement for Aktürkoğlu.

We must discuss this here as well, following the fallout of a certain Nigerian striker with his former club, Galatasaray made the biggest signing in Turkish football history by loaning superstar Victor Osimhen from SSC Napoli.

Okan Buruks style of play also uses his 4-2-3-1 formation in this game, starting with captain Fernando Muslera in goal.

In the back-four, Ismael Jakobs will come in as the starting left-back, with Davinson Sánchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı covering the centre of the defence and Kaan Ayhan playing on the right side.

In midfield, former Arsenal player Lucas Torreira and Gabriel Sara will form the double pivot.

Dries Mertens will start as the attacking midfielder, flanked by Yunus Akgün on the left and Barış Alper Yılmaz on the right.

In attack, with Galatasaray star striker Mauro Icardi still struggling with injury, the chances are very good to see the debut of Osimhen for Galatasaray on the biggest stage possible this Saturday.

Fenerbahçe Tactical Observations: 

Diamond Press With Aggressive Midfielders

If we are talking about José Mourinho tactics, we have to talk about the year 2004.

The Portuguese manager took over FC Porto in 2002, rebuilding the team and modernising the tactics in the game in the meantime.

In 2004, Porto managed to do the unthinkable and won the UEFA Champions League after beating European giants like Manchester United and Olympique Lyon on the way.

One thing that helped Mourinho and his team win these games was a widely spread formation, but Porto used it differently: the 4-diamond-2.

Why do I bring this up here?

Well, you’ll see.

This picture shows Fener in their press this season, here in a UEFA Champions League qualification match against LOSC.

Their 4-2-3-1 becomes more of a 4-4-2, with Szymański pushing forward as a second striker to help control the opposing teams two centre-backs and the double pivot controlling the opposing midfielders.

In the end, this results in a bi