Federico Gatti and Victor Osimhen warmly hugged one another after a 120-minute conflict in Juventus-Galatasaray, sending a strong message to Italian soccer, however the Bianconeri now face an uphill climb to qualify for the Champions League.
Juventus’ will go down as some of the memorable video games within the Previous Girl’s historical past, even when not completely for the proper causes.
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Even after taking place to 10 males initially of the second half, Juventus pulled off a outstanding three-goal comeback towards the Turkish giants. Having misplaced the primary leg 5-2 the week earlier than, Juventus stormed to a 3-0 result in power the match into additional time.
I’ve been overlaying Serie A soccer for over 15 years and have reported on a number of Juventus matches on the Allianz Stadium. The one different time I felt the stadium shake was in 2019, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and helped the Bianconeri beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 on mixture to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Final night time, I felt precisely the identical because the Bianconeri followers created a implausible environment from begin to end and
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Referee João Pinheiro reveals the purple card to Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC in the course of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Stefano Guidi/Getty Photos)
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Not even Lloyd Kelly’s debatable purple card made Juventus lose their momentum. Nonetheless, finally, the Bianconeri discovered themselves licking their wounds after an unimaginable night time of soccer, which as soon as once more confirmed the ill-fated relationship between the Previous Girl and the Cup with the large ears.
Juventus and Galatasaray placed on the sphere precisely what you count on in a top-level Champions League match, and notably the duel between Gatti and Osimhen summed up the spirit proven in Turin final night time.
The conflict between the Bianconeri defender and the ex-Napoli striker started shortly because the pair had an argument early within the first half, when Osimhen even took off his trademark face masks to yell on the Italy centre-back.
It’s nonetheless unclear what Gatti informed Osimhen to immediate his offended response, however absolutely neither confirmed arduous emotions on the finish of the sport, as they warmly hugged one another as quickly because the referee blew the full-time whistle.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Federico Gatti of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his workforce’s second objective in the course of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Stefano Guidi/Getty Photos)
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We’ve already mentioned many instances how Serie A soccer has change into method too comfortable, by some means even due to an But final night time’s match confirmed that Italian golf equipment can, and should play at a excessive tempo to provide their greatest and change into an actual risk to any opponent at a European stage. Atalanta know one thing about it too, having overwhelmed Borussia Dortmund 4-1, turning into the one Serie A aspect to qualify for the Champions League Spherical of 16 this season.
Despite the fact that Galatasaray gamers went method too far with their time-wasting method, particularly within the first half, the duel between Osimhen and Gatti was at all times vigorous, tough, however, above all, honest, and it’s no coincidence that on the finish of the match, they set their rivalry apart for a heartfelt embrace that confirmed exaclty the angle gamers will need to have on the pitch these days.
It’s not a very sentimental take, fairly the alternative. Galatasaray tried to take a seat on their three-goal lead for a lot of the sport and almost paid a excessive value for it, because the depth, the robust challenges, and the will to at all times play the ball from Juventus gave them an opportunity to get again within the contest regardless of the large benefit held by the Turkish aspect.
This could function a lesson for Serie A soccer, however largely the Italy nationwide workforce. If we’re to go to the World Cup, we should stick with soccer and overlook pointless drama.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus FC reacts in the course of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Stefano Guidi/Getty Photos)
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Now, the difficult half begins for Juventus.
It’s arduous to recollect a Bianconeri aspect in recent times that has constructed a lot, but collected so little. It’s simple that the enjoying fashion and the boldness below Luciano Spalletti have elevated dramatically, however the Previous Girl stays 4 factors under the highest 4 and has a vital away sport at Roma developing.
Juventus already proved in Istanbul final week that the bodily and psychological burden from a high-level efficiency can take its toll within the following video games. After their controversial 3-2 loss to Inter lower than two weeks in the past, the Bianconeri suffered a 5-2 defeat away to Galatasaray after which capitulated 2-0 at dwelling towards Como.
In these two matches, the Bianconeri seemed empty, maybe additionally because of the fierce battle at San Siro towards their heated rivals.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Weston McKennie of Juventus FC celebrates with teammates after scoring the third objective of his workforce in the course of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Stefano Guidi/Getty Photos)
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Certainly, that is one thing they’ll’t afford subsequent weekend, as a defeat towards Roma would push them seven factors under a Champions League spot with simply 11 Serie A video games remaining.
Juventus will not be as dangerous as they seemed initially of the season, largely attributable to Spalletti’s But the Bianconeri’s qualification for the Champions League stays unsure, and their subsequent match, in simply three days, will say quite a bit about their probabilities to complete within the prime 4.
It received’t be simple, particularly after enjoying with such excessive depth and being decreased to 10 males for over an hour. Roma, then again, have had per week to arrange for some of the essential video games of the 12 months. This, nevertheless, can’t be an excuse for Juventus, who should be robust sufficient to show that their sacrifice and ache towards Galatasaray weren’t in useless.