galatasaray vs juventus: Galatasaray storm back to win 5-2 in pulsating first leg
Galatasaray produced a dramatic comeback to beat Juventus 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie, turning a 2-1 half-time deficit into a three-goal advantage ahead of the return in Turin. The Turkish champions hit five in a European game for the first time and will travel with momentum and a numerical edge to the second leg.
Second-half fightback and key incidents
The match swung wildly in the first half. Galatasaray took the lead through Gabriel Sara, only for Teun Koopmeiners to respond with a double that put the visitors 2-1 up by the break. Juventus' early control looked set to define the tie, but the second half belonged to the hosts.
Galatasaray levelled and then surged ahead inside the opening hour with clinical finishes from Noa Lang and Davinson Sanchez, who helped turn the tie on its head. The balance of the contest shifted again when a half-time substitute for Juventus was shown a second yellow card roughly 21 minutes after coming on, leaving the visitors down to ten men and under sustained pressure.
With their numerical advantage, Galatasaray kept probing and punished lapses at the back. Lang grabbed his second to extend the lead, and substitute Sacha Boey added a late fifth to seal a comprehensive night for the home side. The result was a chastening evening for Juventus, whose bright opening was undone by defensive lapses and the red card that followed the midfield battle.
What the result means for the tie and historical context
The outcome hands Galatasaray a commanding three-goal cushion heading to Turin, forcing Juventus into an uphill climb when the return leg kicks off on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET. A two-goal deficit would normally be recoverable over 90 minutes, but overturning a three-goal margin against a side enjoying home form and belief will be a stern test.
The fixture carries an intriguing history. This was the seventh Champions League meeting between the clubs but the first in the knockout rounds. The Turkish side had lost just one of the previous six matches between the pair, and they arrive at this tie with positive records against Italian opponents in the competition. Juventus, by contrast, have struggled on the road against this opponent in Europe and enter the second leg without an away win in previous meetings.
The red card changes the calculus as well: Juventus must balance the need to chase goals with caution over avoiding further dismissals, while Galatasaray can adopt a measured approach in Turin, knowing they hold both a scoreline and momentum advantage.
Looking ahead to Turin
The return leg in Turin will be decisive. Juventus will need an early spark and likely a tactical reshuffle to unsettle a Galatasaray team that looks dangerous on the break and confident at set moments. The visitors must also contend with the psychological hit of conceding five at the opponent's ground and the reality that a single away goal for Galatasaray in Turin would place an even steeper mountain in front of them.
For Galatasaray, the task is to manage the lead intelligently: protect their strengths, avoid complacency, and make sure they do not invite pressure that could swing momentum back. The match has delivered an unexpected and entertaining twist to the knockout phase, with the return on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET promising high stakes and heightened drama.
