Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus: Turkish champions take charge after second-half fightback

Galatasaray produced a stunning second-half display to beat Juventus 5-2 in a chaotic first leg of the Champions League knockout phase play-off, moving the Turkish side firmly in control of the tie ahead of the return in Turin on Wednesday, February 25 (3: 00 PM ET).

Match recap: rapid swings and a decisive turnaround

The hosts fell behind early after conceding to Gabriel Sara, but Juventus hit back with two quick goals from Teun Koopmeiners to turn the first half on its head and send the visitors into the interval leading 2-1. What followed was an explosive response from Galatasaray. Noa Lang levelled and Davinson Sanchez's header put the home side 3-2 up by the hour mark, marking the first time Galatasaray had netted five goals in a single Champions League match.

Momentum swung sharply after the break. A second yellow for half-time substitute Juan Cabal left Juventus down to ten men just 21 minutes after his introduction, and Galatasaray took full advantage. Lang added his second when Juventus defensive lapses were ruthlessly punished, and Sacha Boey wrapped up a late fifth to send the Istanbul crowd into raptures and hand Okan Buruk's team a commanding advantage.

Turning points: discipline, momentum and game management

The red-yellow sequence proved decisive. Playing a man down forced Juventus into an uncomfortable defensive posture that the Turkish champions exploited with pace and precision. Galatasaray's attacking rotation and ability to stretch Juventus' backline created the openings that turned the match in their favour.

For Juventus, the early fightback to 2-1 showed resilience, but the inability to maintain structure after the sending-off exposed vulnerabilities. Conceding the equaliser and then the go-ahead goal by the hour undermined the visitors' confidence; the late goals compounded the damage and leave the Serie A side with a steep mountain to climb in the return leg.

Context and what comes next in Turin

This knockout tie is the first Champions League meeting between the clubs to be played in the knockout rounds. Historically, the pair have met six times previously with the Turkish side losing only once (two wins, three draws). Galatasaray have never lost a home Champions League match against Italian opposition and arrive in Turin with a three-goal cushion that puts Juventus under intense pressure.

Galatasaray's squad includes experienced leaders whose presence has already proved influential in Europe. Midfielder İlkay Gündoğan — who spoke in the build-up about his long-held dream to wear the Galatasaray shirt and the pride of playing in Istanbul — has highlighted the squad's mentality and the importance of leadership. At 35, his experience in big matches is a clear asset as Galatasaray aim to navigate the return leg safely.

The second leg on Wednesday, February 25 (3: 00 PM ET) will require Juventus to chase several goals while remaining careful not to concede an away strike that would effectively end their hopes of progression. For Galatasaray, the challenge will be to manage the game intelligently in Turin and protect a lead that puts them one foot into the next round.

With both teams having to balance ambition and caution, the tie remains alive, but the emphatic 5-2 scoreline gives the Istanbul side the psychological and numerical advantage heading into the decisive night in Italy.