galatasaray vs juventus: Galatasaray storm to 5-2 first-leg win, Juve face uphill Turin task

Galatasaray produced a breathtaking second-half turnaround to beat Juventus 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie, taking a three-goal advantage to Italy. The Turkish champions scored five times in a single Champions League game for the first time, leaving their visitors with a mountain to climb ahead of the return in Turin.

Second-half fightback and defining moments

The match began in dramatic fashion. Galatasaray took the lead in the 15th minute when Gabriel Sara unleashed a powerful long-range strike. Juventus hit back almost immediately, with Teun Koopmeiners pouncing on a rebound to level a minute later. Koopmeiners then doubled his tally in the 32nd minute with a driven effort from distance, giving Juventus a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Galatasaray responded emphatically after the interval. Noa Lang equalised soon after the restart by slotting home a rebound, and the hosts seized control on the hour when Davinson Sánchez nodded in from a Sara set piece. Lang completed his brace with a composed finish after Juventus’ defence failed to clear a dangerous delivery, and Sacha Boey sealed a late fifth to complete the rout.

Key moments swung the tie in Galatasaray’s favour. The home side’s intensity and precision in the final third paid dividends, while clinical finishing from the likes of Sara and Lang punished any defensive lapses from Juventus. The scoreline underlined Galatasaray’s ruthless approach once they had momentum.

Discipline, decision-making and Juventus’ collapse

Juventus’ afternoon deteriorated further when half-time substitute Juan Cabal was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in the 67th minute. The dismissal left the visitors a man down at a crucial stage and invited relentless pressure from the home side. Playing with ten men, Juventus struggled to contain Galatasaray’s transitions and were exposed in wide areas and on set pieces.

The numerical disadvantage amplified tactical problems for Juventus, limiting their ability to press and forcing them into deeper defending. Galatasaray exploited that space expertly, with decisive runs and accurate deliveries creating clear scoring opportunities. The scale of the defeat was compounded by defensive lapses that allowed the Turkish side to pile on the pressure late in the game.

Beyond the sending off, Juventus will be concerned by their inability to maintain a lead they had established in the first half. The visitors converted promising moments earlier in the game but could not sustain control when Galatasaray raised their tempo after the break.

What to expect in Turin

The return leg is set for Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET in Turin. Juventus now face the daunting task of overturning a three-goal deficit to progress. The red card to Cabal also means Juventus head to Italy without one squad member for the next match, adding a selection headache for the coaching staff.

Juventus must find a way to score quickly while shoring up defending against Galatasaray’s dangerous wide play and set-piece threat. An early away goal would be crucial to rekindle the tie, but the visitors will also need to prevent conceding at home, where any goal for Galatasaray would dramatically increase the challenge.

For Galatasaray, the priority will be to protect their lead while remaining a threat on the counter. The first leg demonstrated their capacity to turn momentum decisively, and they will travel to Turin with belief that the tie is firmly in their favour. With a three-goal cushion and the psychological edge of a dominant home showing, they go into the second leg confident but mindful of Juventus’ quality and the danger of a swift early response.

The tie is far from mathematically over, but the balance of power has shifted sharply after a ferocious, error-strewn first leg that will leave Juventus under pressure and Galatasaray buoyed by one of their most significant European nights in recent memory.