Following months of refereeing controversy casting a shadow on the Turkish league, both teams requested an intervention for the appointed official, which saw last year’s UEFA Champions League final referee, Slavko Vincic, given the job of controlling the fierce Intercontinental Derby.
Ahead of the match, Jose Mourinho welcomed the decision, and it was his side who called the referee into action the most in the early stages with several fouls committed in a stop-start affair that saw Gala dominate possession.
However, the visitors thought they had opened the scoring just before the quarter-hour mark when Dusan Tadic’s deflected effort hit the back of the net, but the goal was quickly ruled out after Sebastian Szymanski was adjudged to have fouled Fernando Muslera seconds prior.
Following that scare, Okan Buruk’s men took heed and regained control of the contest with almost two-thirds of possession in an opening 45 minutes that lacked goalmouth action.
In fact, the hosts failed to register a shot on target in the first half, with the main action involving referee Vincic, as he waved away penalty appeals for Gala after Victor Osimhen was brought down in the box, sending the sides into the break goalless.
The second half began in the same manner as the first - cagey with little threat going forward for both sides - instead a host of fouls caused disruption to the rhythm of the game.
Caglar Soyuncu saw a header comfortably saved by Muslera with the hour mark approaching, shortly before Fred flashed a shot wide of the post as Fener looked the likeliest to break the deadlock.
The visitors continued to probe for the opener as Alexander Djiku was next to go close for Mourinho’s men, this time calling Muslera into action to make a great stop.
Galatasaray attempted to foray forward in the final quarter-hour, but following a disappointing initial 75 minutes, the hosts failed to test Irfan Can Egribayat in the Fener goal, which will be seen as somewhat of a success for Mourinho’s men - stopping the Lions from scoring for the first time in the league this season.
A draw in the 402nd meeting between the sides keeps Buruk’s men in the driving seat in their title charge. On the other hand, Fener, are left with work to do, likely extending Mourinho’s failure to deliver a domestic trophy, with the Portuguese coach’s last domestic success coming in 2017 with Manchester United in the EFL Cup.
Fener now sit six points behind Gala with 12 rounds remaining.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray)