Fenerbahçe Medicana, led by Marcello Abbondanza, made one of their strongest statements for the Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi title after winning the Istanbul derby against Galatasaray Daikin 3:0 (25:19, 25:13, 25:23) in a match from the 19th round.

And this victory carries even greater weight because it comes at a time of tension surrounding the coach – after two consecutive losses at the beginning of January, there was an unprecedented attack from some fans in the stands and on social media, who not only questioned Abbondanza's work but openly started looking for his "replacement".

Instead of caving in, the Italian specialist responded in the strongest possible way – with a decisive 3:0 derby win and complete control over the match, even without one of the team's biggest stars.

Without Vargas, but with character: "Sarı Melekler" showed depth

Fenerbahçe entered the derby without Melissa Vargas, who was sidelined due to an upper respiratory tract infection following medical examinations and tests. The club officially announced that the diagnosis was confirmed and the player would not be able to participate in the match, wishing her a speedy recovery.

Vargas's absence would normally change the entire balance of the attack, but this time Fenerbahçe showed something very important – the team has enough quality and options to win big matches even without its brightest weapon.

At Burhan Felek, the derby began with the hosts attempting to dictate the rhythm, but Fenerbahçe reacted calmly and closed the first set 25:19.

The second set was indicative – after an early tie, the guests pushed with a long run and went through the set almost without resistance: 25:13.

The third set was the most contested, when Galatasaray tried to get into the match, but Fenerbahçe played the key points more maturely and closed it 25:23, to complete the clean 3:0 (25:19, 25:13, 25:23).

Fedorovtseva led, Baladın and Ana Cristina brought stability

Vargas's absence opened up even more space for the leaders on the court – and they filled it.

The top scorer was:

• Arina Fedorovtseva – 18 points

Also making a significant contribution to the victory were:

• Hande Baladın – 13 points

• Ana Cristina De Souza – 13 points

• Eda Erdem – 5 points

• Aslı Kalaç – 5 points

For Galatasaray, the top scorer was:

• Kaya Grobelna – 9 points, while İlkin Aydın and Alexia Karatassu finished with 7 points.

Victory with a statement: Abondanza stood his ground, the team – behind him

This derby was not just a victory for statistics. It was an answer.

After two consecutive losses in January and a strong reaction from the fans, such a match often turns into a psychological trap – either the coach loses the team, or the team 'raises its head' and shows who they are.

Fenerbahçe chose the latter.

And this at a time when the pressure on Abondanza was not only sporting but also public – with the quickly established topic of a 'replacement,' which rarely brings peace to the locker room. In such an environment, a 3:0 victory in a derby, and without Vargas, sounds like the most categorical defense a team can give its coach – on the court.
Just days earlier, Fenerbahçe showed that their rise was not accidental in Europe either, after defeating Benfica 3:0 (25:20, 31:29, 25:17) away from home and achieving 5 out of 5 in their Champions League group, thus securing first place.

Standings after the 19th round (top 3)

The difference at the top remains small, but the trend is clear – Vakıfbank is the leader, Fenerbahçe is in close proximity and continues to accumulate victories in big matches, while Eczacıbaşı lags in points and has no room for error if they want to remain in the battle for first place. The success in the derby without Vargas shows that Fenerbahçe has depth and can win even without its biggest star – something that often decides the title at the end of the season.