Shock in Istanbul as galatasaray vs juventus ends 5-2 — Turkish champions take control
Galatasaray roared back from a halftime deficit to rout Juventus 5-2 in a pulsating first leg of their Champions League knockout tie, leaving the Serie A side with a daunting trip to Turin. The Turkish champions scored five in a single European game for the first time and will carry a three-goal cushion into the return on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET.
First-half twists set up dramatic second-half swing
The match swung wildly from the outset. Galatasaray struck first through Gabriel Sara, catching Juventus on the back foot, but the visitors hit back strongly with a quickfire double from Teun Koopmeiners that turned the game on its head inside a 17-minute spell. Juventus went into the interval leading 2-1, leaving the home crowd stunned and the tie delicately poised.
Galatasaray, however, produced a superb response after the break. Noa Lang levelled and then put the hosts ahead by the hour mark with a composed finish, while a header from Davinson Sanchez helped complete the turnaround. The momentum had shifted entirely in Istanbul by 60 minutes, and the match took on the feel of a one-sided affair as the night progressed.
Red card and late goals compound Juventus problems
The second half went from bad to worse for the visitors when a half-time substitute picked up a second yellow and was sent off roughly 21 minutes after coming on, leaving Juventus down to 10 men and increasingly vulnerable. Galatasaray sensed blood and pushed relentlessly to exploit the numerical advantage.
Lang punished slack defending to grab his brace, and Sacha Boey capped the rout with a late fifth, sparking wild celebrations in the stadium. The clinical finishing and intensity shown by the hosts exposed defensive frailties in the visitors and left the Italian side with significant work to do in the return leg.
For Juventus, the result will trigger tough conversations about game management, defensive discipline and the necessity of a sharper response in Turin. For Galatasaray, the victory is a statement: a club that has often been underdog on the continent rediscovered its attacking verve on one of the biggest nights in their recent history.
Context and what comes next
This was the seventh European meeting between the clubs and their first clash in the knockout rounds. Historically the balance between the sides has been competitive, but this emphatic win swings momentum decidedly towards the Turkish champions. Galatasaray’s home form in continental knockout fixtures has been resilient, and this result reinforces their pedigree when playing decisive ties on home soil.
The return leg in Turin on Wednesday, February 25 at 3: 00 PM ET now looms large. Juventus must overturn a three-goal deficit without the luxury of making up for the suspended player from this match, and they will need a markedly improved defensive showing and greater attacking invention to force extra time. Galatasaray can afford to be pragmatic, protect their lead and hit on the counter, but the visitors will be desperate to unsettle the tie early.
Ultimately, Wednesday’s scoreline leaves the tie far from over on paper, but the psychological advantage belongs to the hosts. A typically tight European knockout contest has been blown wide open by a dramatic night in Istanbul — one that will be remembered for Galatasaray’s ruthlessness and Juventus’ costly lapses.
