Juventus led 2-1 thanks to a brace from Ten Kupmenas, but Juan Caval’s poor performance resulted in a red card and Noah Long both created a mountain to climb in the Champions League play-offs.
The Bianconeri travel to Istanbul without Jonathan David, Emile Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Alek Milik, but Kefren Thuram returns after missing the controversial 3-2 loss to Inter Milan. Weston McKennie surprisingly became the false nine, flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao. The hosts have Mario Lemina suspended but can count on former Serie A stars Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, Noah Long and Lucas Torreira. The second stop will be in Turin on February 25th.
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Find out how it all unfolds on the Liveblog.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sala celebrates with his teammates during the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg match between Galatasaray and Juventus at Alisamiyan Sports Club on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Brack Kara/Getty Images)
Yunus Akgun’s shot went narrowly wide and at the other end Kenan Yildiz’s shot went wide, but Kenan Yildiz snoozed on the throw-in and Lucas Torreira passed the ball to Gabriel Sara, who fired a left-footed shot into the far bottom corner.
However, Galatasaray’s celebrations were still in full swing and Juventus equalized less than a minute later. Andrea Cambiaso charged forward from the kick-off and crossed to meet Pierre Kalulu’s header, but the ball was blocked in the path of Teun Koopmeiners, who converted the rebound.
Cambiasso received a yellow card and will be suspended for the second leg. Osimhen’s half-volley went over the crossbar and his header was saved by Michele Di Gregorio.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Juventus’ Teun Koopmeiners celebrates with his teammates during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg match between Galatasaray AS and Juventus at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Brack Kara/Getty Images)
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Gleison Bremer and Kenan Yildiz both had knocks, but Juventus managed to turn the game around and take the lead with another Kupmeiners goal. The Dutchman broke through the middle, completed a pass with McKennie and fired into the goal with his left foot.
After a few minutes of trying to continue play, Bremer was forced off with a thigh injury and was replaced by Federico Gatti.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 knockout play-off first leg match between Galatasaray AS and Juventus at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Brack Kara/Getty Images)
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Francisco Conceicao curled a shot on the counterattack and Di Gregorio crouched to parry Yunus Akgun’s crossbow.
Former Palermo player Roland Salai should have equalized on the stroke of half-time, but he sailed wide at the back post after Long caught Cambiasso off guard from a corner.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Galatasaray AS’s Gabriel Sara runs after the ball from Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli during the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout play-off match between Galatasaray AS and Juventus on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Brack Kara/Getty Images)
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They did make it 2-2 after the restart, Di Gregorio putting his gloves on Barris Alper Yilmaz’s angled shot but could do nothing about Long’s catch, his first goal since moving from Napoli in January. Substitute Juan Cabal tried to double mark elsewhere, leaving Yilmaz alone.
Galatasaray turned the tables again when Gabriel Sala’s ferocious free-kick glanced past Davinson Sanchez and fired past Di Gregorio from close range.
Cabal received a yellow card for a foul on Barris Alper Yilmaz and was awarded a second free-kick for another attempt to stop the Galatasaray captain, leaving Juventus reduced to 10 men after a nightmare performance from the substitutes.
Things went from bad to worse as Thuram and Lloyd Kelly were too slow at the back, allowing Osimhen to steal the ball in the box and find Long for another tap-in.
Former Torino winger Wilfried Singo’s long-range shot went just wide, but when the fifth goal arrived, Osimhen battled with Lloyd Kelly to send substitute Sacha Boey down the right to fire a powerful shot into the far top corner.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Davinson Sanchez of Galatasaray AS celebrates during the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi match between Galatasaray AS and Juventus in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout play-off match on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey Scored the team’s third goal in the game. (Photo by Brack Kara/Getty Images)
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Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
Gabriel Sala 15 (G), Kupmainas 16, 32 (J), Long 49, 75 (G), Sanchez 60 (G), Boy 86 (G)
Send: Cabal 67 (J)
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