Key Takeaways:
- Galatasaray powered to a 5-2 victory over Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off round tie
- Juventus experienced their first defeat in the competition under manager Luciano Spalletti last night
- Noa Lang starred with two goals, while Juventus ended the match with ten men following Cabal’s dismissal
First-Half Drama Sets the Tone
Returning to UEFA Champions League knockout action for the first time since the 2013/14 season, Juventus were eager to impress in front of their home faithful. Within the opening 10 minutes, Yunus Akgun came close to giving Galatasaray the lead, narrowly missing with a strike from distance. Nevertheless, it was the visitors who surged ahead by the 15th minute, capitalising on a mistake from Kenan Yildiz. The Juventus forward lost possession deep in his own territory, allowing Gabriel Sara to tuck the ball into the corner.
Şampiyonlar Ligi Play-Off Turu ilk maçında galibiyet bizim! 💪
Maç sonucu: Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus 👏#GSvJUVE #UCL pic.twitter.com/uAQBuerqqk
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) February 17, 2026
Galatasaray’s lead was short-lived, however, with Juventus responding almost instantly. Ugurcan Cakır made an impressive save to deny Pierre Kalulu’s header, but Teun Koopmeiners pounced on the rebound to restore parity. The match developed into an open contest, with Victor Osimhen coming close for the visitors and Michele Di Gregorio thwarting his attempt.
Just before the interval, Galatasaray pressed for a second, with Di Gregorio saving from Akgün and Rolland Sallai missing a good chance at the back post. However, Juventus went into half-time ahead as Koopmeiners linked up with Weston McKennie and expertly found the top corner, giving the hosts a narrow lead.
Galatasaray’s Ruthless Second-Half Response
After the break, Galatasaray intensified their efforts and were rewarded with two goals within 15 minutes to reclaim the advantage. Baris Yilmaz’ driven effort was only parried by Di Gregorio, leaving Noa Lang with a simple finish to level the score. Soon after, Davinson Sanchez managed to shoulder Gabriel Sara’s inswinging free-kick into the corner of the net, putting Galatasaray ahead once more.
Juventus’ woes deepened when Cabal received a second yellow card for fouling Yilmaz, reducing the Italian side to ten men with more than 20 minutes remaining. Galatasaray capitalised yet again: a misplaced pass from Khephren Thuram put Lloyd Kelly under pressure, allowing Osimhen to steal in and set up Lang for his second goal of the evening.
Substitute Sacha Boey then completed the scoring with a precision strike from a tight angle, shortly after Mauro Icardi’s introduction. This capped a dominant performance for the Turkish outfit, who now carry a significant advantage heading into the return leg in Turin.
Statistical Overview
Galatasaray’s strong record against Juventus continued, with just one defeat in their last seven meetings. In contrast, Juventus have now won only one of their previous six matches in all competitions, and face the prospect of a second consecutive elimination at this play-off stage.
| Team | Score | Goal scorers | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galatasaray | 5 | Noa Lang (2), Gabriel Sara, Davinson Sanchez, Sacha Boey | 0 |
| Juventus | 2 | Teun Koopmeiners (2) | 1 (Cabal) |
Looking Ahead
Okan Buruk’s team will head to Turin with a commanding lead and a confidence built on recent form against Juventus. Meanwhile, the Italian side must regroup as they seek to overturn the deficit, while contending with a disappointing run that has seen victory only once in their last six outings.
