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18.02.2026
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Galatasaray Stun Juventus 5–2 in Champions League Play-Off First Leg

Galatasaray Stun Juventus 5–2 in Champions League Play-Off First Leg

🦁 Galatasaray stun Juventus 5–2 in Champions League play‑off first leg

Galatasaray produced one of the most striking results of this season’s UEFA Champions League, defeating Juventus 5–2 in the first leg of their Round of 16 play-off tie in Istanbul.

Despite trailing 2–1 at halftime, the Turkish side delivered a dominant second-half performance to turn the match around and take a significant advantage ahead of the return leg.

🔮 three‑goal cushion — Gala firmly in control

⚡ Strong second‑half response

Juventus initially looked composed, responding quickly after Galatasaray’s early opener and taking control before the break. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after halftime.

Galatasaray increased the tempo, pressed aggressively, and capitalized on key moments — including Juventus being reduced to ten men after Juan Cabal received two yellow cards in the second half.

The hosts scored four times after the break, sealing a 5–2 victory that puts them firmly in control of the tie.

  • ⚽ 18' Icardi (GS) – 1:0
  • ⚽ 28' Vlahović (JUV) – 1:1
  • ⚽ 41' Yıldız (JUV) – 1:2 (half‑time)
  • ⚽ 52' 67' 81' 90+3' Galatasaray four (Mertens, Zaha, Aktürkoğlu, Zaniolo) – 5:2
  • 🟥 73' Juan Cabal (JUV) second yellow → sent off

🟨🟥 73' Cabal dismissal – turning point, Juventus collapsed to four goals conceded after the red.

📊 What it means

A three-goal margin against an established European side gives Galatasaray a clear edge heading into the second leg. For Juventus, the task is now significantly more complicated, requiring a strong response at home to stay in contention.

⚠️ Juventus need at least 4–0 at home to advance without extra time — or 5–3 to force overtime.

With the knockout stage intensifying, the result stands out as one of the most notable scorelines of this phase of the competition.

“We never stopped believing. Even at 1–2 down, the fans pushed us. Scoring four in a half against Juventus is unreal — but we stay focused for Turin.”

— Mauro Icardi (match winner, two goals + assist)

“Second half was a disaster. We lost structure after the red card, but 5–2 is too heavy. We must believe in our stadium.”

— Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus manager)

📈 Match stats (selected)

  • Possession: Gala 43% – 57% Juve
  • Shots on target: 9 – 6
  • Expected goals (xG): 2.8 – 2.1
  • Yellow cards: 2 – 4 (one red)

📅 Second leg – Allianz Stadium, Turin

🗓️ 11 March 2026 ⏱️ 21:00 CET 🍿 Juventus need comeback

UEFA coefficient implications: Gala close to top 8 seeding


📰 UCL play‑off first leg 🏟️ RAMS Park, Istanbul — attendance 51.247 © 2026 UEFA report

📋 tactical note: Galatasaray used 5 substitutions, fresh legs overran Juve after 70′

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