The Galatasaray Show

Barcelona have started the season on fire — so does Galatasaray have any realistic chance of stopping them at Rams Park?

Dan Hilton from The Barcelona Podcast joins The Galatasaray Show to break down the Champions League matchup from a Barcelona perspective. We discuss what's changed under Hansi Flick, Raphinha's fitness, Barcelona's relentless high press, and the areas Galatasaray may actually be able to exploit.

Dan explains why forcing Barcelona's center backs to defend in wide areas could provide an opening for Galatasaray and whether Okan Buruk should stick with his usual aggressive pressing style or sacrifice possession and play on the counter. Pasted text

We also turn the tables as Dan asks about Victor Osimhen, Rafael Leão and Galatasaray's biggest threats, before we discuss whether the famous Rams Park atmosphere can really affect Barcelona and get Dan's prediction for the match. Pasted text Pasted text

Can Galatasaray pull off a Champions League upset — or is Barcelona simply too good?

I recently joined Son Düdük 90+ for a wide-ranging conversation about Galatasaray — and we had a lot of fun with this one. We talked about how The Galatasaray Show got started, some of my favorite Galatasaray players and matches, my experiences following the club in Türkiye and Europe, expectations for the season ahead, and plenty more. This one is a little different from our usual episodes. No match recap, no tactical breakdown — just two football fans sitting down and talking football and Galatasaray. A big thank you to Son Düdük 90+ for inviting me on and allowing me to share our conversation here with you. 

Something feels different at Galatasaray this season. After four straight Süper Lig titles and a Champions League Round of 16 appearance, why does Okan Buruk’s team suddenly look like it has lost its edge? In this episode of The Galatasaray Show, Brad and Serkan dig into The Okan Buruk Question. Has the same core of players and the same message simply been together too long? Did Galatasaray fail to refresh the squad when it mattered most? And has the club’s transfer strategy focused too much on big names instead of finding the right players for the system? We look at Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola’s philosophies on rebuilding successful teams, the numbers behind long managerial tenures, Galatasaray’s “evlat” problem, the club’s summer transfers, Rafael Leão’s fit in Okan Buruk’s pressing system, and why Amedspor’s recruitment of Gift Orban raises bigger questions about Galatasaray’s transfer strategy. Most importantly: what can Galatasaray actually change right now? With the transfer window closed and crucial Champions League matches approaching, Brad and Serkan disagree over whether tactical changes are enough—or whether Galatasaray may eventually have to make a much bigger decision. What do you think? Should Galatasaray stay patient with Okan Buruk, change the system, or is a bigger change needed?

Galatasaray were demolished 4-0 by Trabzonspor in one of the worst performances we’ve seen since starting The Galatasaray Show.

Brad and Serkan break down what went wrong — from Okan Buruk’s starting XI and tactical decisions to the individual performances, the continued dependence on Victor Osimhen, and the transfer strategy that left key new signings unprepared to contribute when Galatasaray needed them.

We also discuss Okan’s red card, the defensive problems, Batrakov starting on the bench for the second straight match, and whether the warning signs we’ve been talking about for weeks have finally caught up with Galatasaray.

Everything is fine… right?

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Galatasaray finally got revenge on Kocaelispor with a 1–0 victory—but the score doesn’t tell the whole story.

Galatasaray dominated with 29 shots, nine on target, 44 touches inside the box and 16 corners. Abdülkerim Bardakcı scored the winner, while Deniz Gül, Leão and Lesley provided encouraging performances without the injured Victor Osimhen.

Brad and Serkan discuss the missed chances, Batrakov’s surprising absence from the starting lineup, Yunus at number ten, Barış Alper’s struggles and what this performance means moving forward.

Were you encouraged by Galatasaray’s performance, or concerned that 29 shots produced only one goal?

Hadi Cimbom Hadi!

Galatasaray falls 3-1 to Sporting in Portugal to open the Champions League campaign, but did Okan Buruk get his starting XI wrong? With Victor Osimhen unavailable, Okan started Barış Alper Yılmaz at striker while Deniz Gül remained on the bench. Leroy Sané started ahead of Rafael Leão, with Okan explaining before the match that he preferred the players who were “more ready.” Galatasaray had a strong first half, but everything changed after the break. Serkan and I debate Okan’s lineup, the controversial refereeing decisions, the timing of the substitutions, and whether Leão and Gül should have been given the opportunity from the start. Was this loss on Okan Buruk, or did the referee change the match? Let us know what you think in the comments. Hadi Cimbom Hadi! 🦁💛❤️

Galatasaray earns a dramatic 3-2 road victory over Başakşehir — but the biggest concern coming out of the match is Victor Osimhen’s injury.

Serkan joins me to break down the win, Gabriel Sara’s late winner, Rafael Leão’s impressive debut, Aleksey Batrakov’s first start, and the growing questions about Okan Buruk’s reluctance to use Galatasaray’s young players.

We also discuss Deniz Gül’s limited minutes, the concerns in defense, Leroy Sané’s disappointing performance, and what this match tells us ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Sporting.

A hard-fought three points — and plenty to talk about.

Galatasaray’s Champions League campaign begins with a trip to Lisbon to face Sporting CP — but just how good are Sporting, and where can Galatasaray hurt them?

Portuguese football expert and lifelong Sporting supporter Kevin Fernandes joins The Galatasaray Show to give us the inside view on our first Champions League opponent.

We break down Sporting’s new transfers, their biggest attacking threats, their tactical approach and some very interesting weaknesses that Galatasaray may be able to exploit. Sporting have already allowed a 2–0 lead to become 2–2 and a 3–0 lead to become 3–2 this season — so why are they struggling to control matches after getting ahead?

Kevin also tells us where he believes Galatasaray can hurt Sporting, why the opening 30 minutes could be crucial, and which Sporting players Galatasaray supporters need to watch closely.

We also discuss Victor Osimhen, Rafael Leão, Leroy Sané, Aleksey Batrakov, Galatasaray’s new-look squad and how Sporting supporters view the Turkish champions from the outside.

Galatasaray’s deadline-day moves continue with RB Leipzig defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu!

The 21-year-old French center back arrived at Leipzig from PSG as one of Europe’s highly rated young defensive prospects. After appearing to establish himself in the team and earning a contract extension through 2029, his playing time dropped dramatically last season.

So what happened?

RB Leipzig content creator Johannes Martin joins The Galatasaray Show to explain what went wrong for Bitshiabu in Germany, where his enormous potential still lies, his strengths and weaknesses, and why Leipzig are willing to let him leave.

We also discuss his consistency and concentration issues, the comparisons to Dayot Upamecano, and whether Galatasaray’s reported loan with an option to buy represents a low-risk opportunity to develop a potentially top-level center back.

What should Galatasaray fans expect from El Chadaille Bitshiabu?

Deniz Gül has arrived in Istanbul and is set to become Galatasaray’s newest striker! 🟡🔴

But what exactly are we getting?

I’ve only seen Gül play sparingly with the Turkish national team, so I brought in Portuguese football journalist Kevin Fernandes to help us understand the 22-year-old striker and what he showed during his time at FC Porto.

Kevin breaks down Gül’s strengths, his physical and versatile style of play, why his goal-scoring numbers don’t necessarily tell the whole story, and why his development at Porto may have been affected by circumstances around him.

We also discuss why Porto were willing to sell him, whether the reported €10 million price makes sense, how he could complement Victor Osimhen, and why Galatasaray could be the right environment for Gül to take the next step in his career.

Plus, we talk about Gül’s connection to Galatasaray, his potential with the Turkish national team, and why Porto supporters embraced him despite the lack of goals.

What kind of player is Galatasaray getting in Deniz Gül? Kevin helps us find out.