Juventus Vs Galatasaray: VAR drama, Kelly red card and extra-time carnage decide who goes through
The knockout play-off second-leg between Juventus and Galatasaray produced a dramatic late resolution and a high-profile VAR controversy. Juventus Vs Galatasaray ended with Galatasaray progressing on aggregate after extra-time, a review that began as a check on a second yellow ultimately becoming a straight red for Lloyd Kelly, and a sequence of goals that forced extra time before the visitors sealed the tie.
Juventus Vs Galatasaray: the VAR review that changed everything
Referee Joao Pinheiro initially showed Lloyd Kelly a second yellow for a foul on Baris Yilmaz, then made the now-familiar gesture drawing an invisible box in the air before walking to the pitchside monitor. The check at the monitor overturned the initial decision—but not in the way Juventus fans hoped. Rather than erasing the second yellow, the on-field review resulted in Kelly being upgraded to a straight red for a serious foul after he landed on the back of Yilmaz's Achilles following an aerial challenge.
How the decision played out inside the Allianz Stadium
The incident took place at the Allianz Stadium, where the sound of cheers from some home supporters briefly suggested a reversal that would favour Juventus. Instead, the review left the Serie A side down to 10 men. Kelly, a 27-year-old who previously played for Bournemouth and Newcastle, reacted furiously to the outcome and booted a wall in the tunnel on his exit. Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti was left with a perplexed look on the touchline.
Match timeline: Juve fightback, late extra-time finish
The sequence of events on the night produced a near-miracle comeback before the visitors clinched progress. Juventus were 1-0 on the night as they tried to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit from Istanbul. Manuel Locatelli converted a penalty that kicked off the comeback. Despite being reduced to 10 men early in the second half, Juventus rallied and took the lead on the night, with Federico Gatti scoring on 72 minutes and Weston McKennie on 82 minutes to level the tie at 5-5 and force extra time.
In extra time, Victor Osimhen put Galatasaray back in the driving seat with a goal in the first period of extra time — a strike that left the night at 3-1 and Galatasaray ahead 6-5 on aggregate. Late in extra time, Baris Yilmaz sealed the victory with a 119th-minute goal, completing a 7-5 aggregate success for Galatasaray and ending Juventus’ comeback bid.
Wider competition implications and upcoming draw
The result secures Galatasaray a place in the Champions League Round of 16. That outcome means potential opponents include Atletico Madrid or the Turkish Super Lig champions; Atletico had beaten Club Brugge 7-4 on aggregate after a 4-1 second-leg win earlier in the week. The draw to determine Round of 16 ties is set to be held in Switzerland on Friday (11am UK), with the Round of 16 scheduled for March. Clubs including Liverpool and Tottenham are set to discover whether they will face Atletico or Galatasaray in that draw.
VAR rules, Ifab and what the review meant
Under current Champions League practice, VAR checks are limited to clear and obvious errors involving goals, incidents in the penalty area, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity; at present, VAR does not intervene on yellow-card decisions. That said, once the match official chooses to conduct an on-pitch review, the referee is empowered to take any decision deemed appropriate. The International Football Association Board (Ifab) is expected to consider approving VAR reviews specifically for wrongly awarded second yellow cards at its annual general meeting on Saturday, a development that could alter how similar incidents are handled in future.
Reactions and fallout from the decision
Reaction to the outcome was sharp. Former Premier League defender Curtis Davies described the decision in strong terms, arguing there needed to be a level of understanding about aerial challenges and where a player’s feet are expected to land after a header. Football commentator Rory Smith characterised the decision as "awful" and a "disgrace. " On the field and in the tunnel, the incident left Lloyd Kelly visibly angry and Juventus stunned after mounting a remarkable comeback that ultimately fell short.
Recent coverage of the match framed the result as an epic extra-time thriller in which Galatasaray held off a 10-man Juventus comeback to advance, while debate over the VAR review and the treatment of yellow-card incidents is likely to intensify ahead of the Ifab meeting.
