Galatasaray beats Başakşehir with elegant goal from Ahmed Kutucu in Ziraat Türkiye Kupası

Galatasaray began the defense of the Ziraat Türkiye Kupası title with a 1-0 victory over RAMS Başakşehir, in a match valid for the first round of the Grupo A. The game took place at RAMS Park, in Istambul, at 20:30 local time, with the decisive goal coming in the 22nd minute of the first half. Ahmed Kutucu, 25-year-old striker, was the scorer of the only goal of the night, scoring against his former club and recording his first achievement of the 2025-2026 season.

The clash marked the teams’ debut in the group stage of the competition. Galatasaray, current champion after beating Trabzonspor in the final of the previous edition by 3-0, entered the field with rotations in the squad due to the intense schedule. Coach Okan Buruk made changes compared to the last game for Süper Lig, giving opportunities to players like Ahmed Kutucu, who started as a starter for the first time this season.

Kutucu received a precise pass on the left of the area and executed a high-quality individual play. Ele dominated the ball, cut to the middle and finished low into the corner, with no chance for the opposing goalkeeper. Essa was an action that highlighted the technical ability of the player, trained in the youth teams of Schalke 04 and with a previous spell at Başakşehir.

Details of the decisive goal

The move that defined the score came in a quick transition from Galatasaray. Leroy Sané, one of the highlights of the squad, provided the pass that left Kutucu in a favorable position inside the area. The attacker demonstrated calmness when controlling the ball and choosing the right angle for the shot. Esse goal not only put the home team ahead but also represented a special moment for the player.

Kutucu had played in a few matches as a starter since his arrival at Galatasaray in January 2025. Anteriormente, he accumulated experience at clubs such as Schalke 04, The restrained celebration reflects respect for his former club, where he had a short spell in 2021.

Casting and roster rotations

Okan Buruk chose to preserve some starters, considering the absences due to call-ups for the Copa Africana of Entre the changes, the additions of Arda Ünyay, Kazımcan Karataş and Gökdeniz Gürpüz to the starting eleven stood out.

• Main changes compared to the last Süper Lig game:
• Departures: Yunus Akgün, Lucas Torreira, Barış Alper Yılmaz and Davinson Sánchez.
• Entries: Arda Ünyay, Kazımcan Karataş, Gökdeniz Gürpüz, Gabriel Sara and
• Mauro Icardi also started the match, forming an attacking duo.

On Başakşehir’s side, coach Nuri Şahin also dealt with absences such as Olivier Kemen and Christopher Operi. The visiting team sought balance in midfield, but failed to convert the chances created into goals.

Context of the group stage

The Ziraat Türkiye Kupası adopts a group format of eight teams this season. Grupo A includes Galatasaray, RAMS Başakşehir, Trabzonspor, Corendon Alanyaspor, Fatih Karagümrük, İstanbulspor, Boluspor and Cada team plays four matches in the phase, with the first two and the two best third parties advancing to the quarterfinals.

Galatasaray, record holder with 19 titles, aims to maintain hegemony in the national competition. The victory in the debut puts the team in a favorable position in the group, adding three points in the first round. Upcoming matches include clashes against Fethiyespor, İstanbulspor and Alanyaspor.

The match registered a good attendance at RAMS Park, with fans supporting the rotations and celebrating Kutucu’s return to goals. Başakşehir, in turn, is looking to recover in the following rounds to fight for classification.

Trajectory of Ahmed Kutucu

Ahmed Sua transfer to Turkish football took place in 2021, with a spell at Başakşehir followed by loans and performances in other leagues.

In Galatasaray since the beginning of 2025, Kutucu has accumulated appearances as a substitute in Süper Lig and European Champions League games. The goal against his former club represents not only the first of the season but also a boost in the striker’s confidence for future contributions.

• Main career stages:
• 2011-2018: Formação in Schalke 04, with 5 goals in 45 games in Bundesliga.
• 2021: Passagem short for Başakşehir.
• 2023-2024: Destaque at Eyüpspor, with 14 goals in 21 matches.
• 2025: Reforço at Galatasaray to strengthen the offensive sector.

Team performance in the season

Galatasaray maintains a solid campaign in Süper Lig, competing for leadership and advancing in European competitions. Defending the title in the national cup is a priority, especially with the squad reinforced by names like Leroy Sané and Mauro Icardi. The rotation adopted in the game against Başakşehir demonstrates planning to deal with the busy schedule.

RAMS Başakşehir, fifth in the previous Süper Lig, enters the cup directly in the group stage on sporting merit. The team shows progress under recent leadership, but the setback in the debut requires adjustments for the next rounds. Ausências due to call-ups also impacted visiting performance.

Individual match highlights

In addition to Kutucu’s goal, other players contributed to Galatasaray’s game control. Gabriel Sara organized the midfield with precise passes, while the defense remained solid without conceding goals. At Başakşehir, attempted counterattacks did not result in dangerous finishes.

Referee Halil Umut Meler conducted the match without any major controversies. The minimalist victory reflects Galatasaray’s efficiency in taking advantage of opportunities created in the first half.

Upcoming group appointments

The group stage continues with rounds distributed until March 2026. Galatasaray alternates home and away games, aiming to accumulate points for leadership. The direct confrontation with Trabzonspor, another strong candidate, promises to be decisive in the final stages of the group.

Qualified teams advance to the knockout stage, with quarters, semi-finals and the final defining the champion of the 2025-2026 edition.