galatasaray vs juventus: Galatasaray storm to 5-2 first-leg win in Turin tie
Galatasaray produced a breathtaking Champions League display, overturning a first-half deficit to dismantle Juventus 5-2 and carry a three-goal advantage to the return leg in Turin. The hosts scored five in a European game for the first time, turning a tight contest into a one-sided affair after the break.
Second-half fightback and decisive moments
The match swung wildly across 90 minutes. Juventus struck back late in the first half after falling behind to a thunderous Gabriel Sara long-range strike in the 15th minute. Teun Koopmeiners responded almost immediately with a rebound finish and then doubled his tally with a driven effort from distance to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Galatasaray's response was instant and relentless. Noa Lang drew the hosts level soon after the restart, finishing a rebound to make it 2-2 and shift momentum. Davinson Sánchez then converted from a set-piece delivery to put Galatasaray in front by the hour mark. The tie turned further on the 67th minute when a half-time substitute picked up a second yellow card, reducing Juventus to 10 men and exposing gaps that the Turkish champions exploited.
With the numerical advantage, Galatasaray pressed home their superiority. Lang completed his brace with a composed finish after lax defending from the visitors, and substitute Sacha Boey capped the rout with a late strike to seal a 5-2 victory. The second half belonged entirely to the hosts, who combined urgency, clinical finishing and sharper defending to dominate proceedings.
Key takeaways and what to expect in Turin
The result hands Galatasaray a commanding position heading into the return fixture in Italy on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET. A three-goal cushion dramatically alters the tactical map for Juventus, who now face the twin tasks of finishing with greater guile and avoiding further disciplinary lapses that could handicap their comeback hopes.
Beyond the scoreline, the tie exposed recurring issues for Juventus on the road in this rivalry and underscored Galatasaray’s strong home record in knockout ties. This is the clubs’ first meeting in the knockout rounds of the competition; in prior UCL encounters the Turkish side have lost only once in six meetings, and they have been difficult opponents at home for Italian teams.
Galatasaray’s achievement of netting five goals in a single Champions League game marks a milestone for the club and will inject confidence into their squad and supporters ahead of the second leg. Juventus must now regroup quickly, rethink their defensive approach to set-pieces and manage discipline if they are to overturn a sizeable deficit on Italian soil.
Ultimately, the result elevates the drama of the tie. Turin will provide a hostile stage and Juventus will be expected to mount a response, but Galatasaray head north with momentum, belief and a significant scoring cushion that gives them the upper hand as the two sides prepare for the decisive return encounter.
