Galatasaray boss praises Fenerbahce following derby defeat [divider]

Galatasaray manager Hamza Hamzaoğlu praised rivals Fenerbahçe following the Intercontinental derby.

Fenerbahçe beat Galatasaray 1-0 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium to maintain their 16 year unbeaten home record against the Lions.

“Fenerbahçe won today and I congratulate them, it was a good game that could have swung either way but we are still first and there is a long way to go,” Hamzaoğlu told Lig Tv after the game.

Galatasaray lost their first league game with Hazamoğlu in charge since he took over in November.

Hamzaoğlu replaced Cesare Prandelli and had averaged 2.6 points per-game going into the derby.

Galatasaray remain in first place in the Süper Lig following the defeat.

The Lions are first in the league on 51 points but Beşiktaş are second only on goal difference and Fenerbahçe are just one point behind.

Galatasaray take on Istanbul based Başakşehir in the mini Istanbul derby next week at the Türk Telekom Arena.