galatasaray vs juventus: Galatasaray take control with incredible 5-2 first-leg win
Galatasaray produced a relentless second-half display to overturn a first-half deficit and beat Juventus 5-2 in a chaotic Champions League play-off first leg. The hosts will carry a three-goal advantage to Turin for the return leg on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET after a night of quickfire goals, a red card and two standout performances from Noa Lang and Gabriel Sara.
Second-half fightback turns the tie on its head
The match swung wildly. Galatasaray took an early lead when Gabriel Sara unleashed a thunderous long-range strike in the 15th minute that left the visiting goalkeeper helpless. Juventus hit back almost immediately through Teun Koopmeiners, who converted a rebound in the 16th minute, and then doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a driven effort from outside the box to send the visitors into the interval 2-1 up.
The complexion of the tie changed after halftime. Noa Lang levelled early in the second period by slotting home a rebound, and Davinson Sánchez turned in a precise set-piece delivery from Sara to give the hosts the lead around the hour mark. Juventus’ night worsened when substitute Juan Cabal was shown a second yellow card in the 67th minute, leaving the Italian side a man down and chasing a steep uphill battle.
Galatasaray ruthless with the extra man
With numerical advantage, Galatasaray pressed relentlessly and punished lax defending. Lang completed his brace with a composed finish after a slick assist, and Sacha Boey sealed the scoring late on to make it 5-2. The five-goal haul marked the first time Galatasaray have scored five in a Champions League fixture, and their attacking display combined direct finishing and creative set-piece work.
The home goalkeeper kept his side in the contest when needed, while Juventus struggled to regroup after their red card and failed to contain Galatasaray’s transition play. Juventus’ goalkeeper was called into action frequently, but the defensive lapses at key moments proved decisive.
What this means for the tie and the record books
Galatasaray now head to Turin with a commanding three-goal cushion and clear momentum. The return leg in Italy presents opportunity for Juventus to respond, but they will have to do so without the buffer of home-goal parity and facing a Galatasaray side that looks confident on the ball and clinical in attack.
The fixture was the first knockout meeting between the clubs in the Champions League. Historically, the sides had met in group stages and past campaigns, but this result gives the Turkish champions the upper hand in a two-legged tie where momentum and confidence are crucial. Juventus will need a strong reaction in front of their home crowd to overturn the deficit and the psychological edge gained by their opponents.
Wednesday’s return in Turin kicks off at 3: 00 PM ET, with both teams facing a decisive 90 minutes that will determine who progresses into the last 16. For now, Galatasaray’s emphatic win has shifted the odds and delivered one of the standout results of the early knockout phase.
