Galatasaray Knock Out Juventus After Epic Turino Battle
February 25, 2026
227d agoIn one of the most dramatic ties in this season’s UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round, Galatasaray booked their place in the Round of 16 with a 7–5 aggregate win over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
After Juventus had lost the first leg 5–2 in Istanbul, the Italian giants launched a spirited fightback on home soil with a 3–2 win on the night after extra time, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit.
Indeed, Galatasaray held on to their lead and advanced to the next stage of Europe’s premier club competition.
The home side looked to take the game to their visitors from the outset, knowing they needed goals to bridge the aggregate gap.
Juventus drew first blood when Manuel Locatelli converted a penalty just before half-time to make it 1–0 on the night and 3–6 overall. The Bianconeri were then reduced to ten men early in the second half after a straight red card for Lloyd Kelly, but they didn’t let that dampen their attacking intent.
Despite being a man down, Juventus continued to push, and Federico Gatti headed in the equaliser before Weston McKennie powered home a third to complete the comeback on the night and level the aggregate score at 5-5 by the end of 90 minutes.
This incredible resilience forced the tie into extra time, electrifying the Turin crowd and setting the stage for a genuine European classic.
In extra time, Galatasaray regained their edge when Victor Osimhen drilled a low finish past the Juventus goalkeeper, restoring their aggregate advantage.
A late strike from Baris Alper Yilmaz then sealed the tie and sent the Turkish side through, sparking wild celebrations among their travelling fans.
Despite Juventus’ gallant performance and stunning comeback attempt, Galatasaray’s earlier first-leg dominance proved decisive as they progressed to the Champions League Round of 16.
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