Juventus had been main 2-1 with a Teun Koopmeiners brace, however a disastrous efficiency from Juan Cabal with purple card and Noa Lang double create a Champions League play-off mountain to climb.
The Bianconeri made the journey to Istanbul Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik, however Khephren Thuram returned after lacking the controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter. Weston McKennie was became a shock False 9, flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao. had Mario Lemina suspended, however may rely on former Serie A stars Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, Noa Lang and Lucas Torreira. The second leg in Turin is on February 25.
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ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his workforce’s first objective with teammates through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photograph by Burak Kara/Getty Photographs)
A Yunus Akgun scorcher flashed simply large, as did the deflected Kenan Yildiz effort on the different finish, however Kenan Yildiz was caught napping on a throw-in, so Lucas Torreira laid it off for Gabriel Sara to bend the left-foot end into the far backside nook.
Nevertheless, the Galatasaray celebrations had been nonetheless in full swing when Juventus equalised lower than a minute later. Andrea Cambiaso surged ahead from the kick-off and floated a cross for Pierre Kalulu’s header, which was solely parried into the trail of Teun Koopmeiners to show within the rebound.
Cambiaso was booked and will likely be suspended for the second leg, whereas Osimhen’s half-volley flashed over the bar and his header was properly saved by Michele Di Gregorio.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus celebrates scoring his workforce’s first objective with teammates through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photograph by Burak Kara/Getty Photographs)
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Each Gleison Bremer and Kenan Yildiz had been carrying knocks, however Juve managed to show the sport round to steer with one other from Koopmeiners. The Dutchman burst by way of the centre, accomplished a give and go along with McKennie, and blasted into the roof of the online along with his left foot.
After a number of minutes of attempting to proceed, Bremer was pressured off with a thigh difficulty, changed by Federico Gatti.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus runs with the ball through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photograph by Burak Kara/Getty Photographs)
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Francisco Conceicao curled off course from a counter-attack and Di Gregorio received all the way down to palm away the Yunus Akgun daisy-cutter.
Former Palermo man Roland Sallai ought to’ve equalised on the stroke of half-time, however ballooned over on the again put up after shocking Cambiaso on a Lang nook.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray A.S. runs with the ball from Manuel Locatelli of Juventus through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photograph by Burak Kara/Getty Photographs)
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They did make it 2-2 straight after the restart, as Di Gregorio received a glove to the Baris Alper Yilmaz angled drive, however may do nothing on Lang’s tap-in for his first objective because the January transfer from Napoli. Substitute Juan Cabal had tried to double up marking elsewhere, leaving Yilmaz alone.
Galatasaray turned it round as soon as extra, Gabriel Sara’s ferocious free kick taking a mere look off Davinson Sanchez to wrong-foot Di Gregorio from shut vary.
Cabal had on condition that free kick away with a foul on Baris Alper Yilmaz for a yellow card, and acquired his second for one more failed try and cease the Galatasaray captain, lowering Juventus to 10 males after a nightmare efficiency off the bench.
Issues went from unhealthy to worse, as Thuram and Lloyd Kelly had been too sluggish enjoying out from the again, permitting Osimhen to steal it contained in the field and discover Lang for one more tap-in.
Ex-Torino winger Wilfried Singo drilled simply large from distance, however the fifth arrived when Osimhen battled with Lloyd Kelly to ship substitute Sacha Boey down the fitting, blasting into the far high nook with a strong end.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Davinson Sanchez of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his workforce’s third objective through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photograph by Burak Kara/Getty Photographs)
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Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
Gabriel Sara 15 (G), Koopmeiners 16, 32 (J), Lang 49, 75 (G), Sanchez 60 (G), Boey 86 (G)
Despatched off: Cabal 67 (J)