17 February 2026
Juventus suffered a loss in Istanbul against Galatasaray in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
MATCH REPORT
The match began with both teams well-balanced despite the fiery stadium atmosphere, with the Bianconeri ready to strike on the counter. In the 15th minute, however, it was the Turks who found the breakthrough: Sara received the ball in the box and made it 1-0 with a left-footed shot. Juventus reacted immediately: barely a minute passed and the Bianconeri scored an equalizer. Cambiaso played a ball into the penalty area, which Kalulu headed, and Çakır managed parried it, but Koopmeiners responded quickly with tap-in and an immediate equalizer. On the half-hour mark, Di Gregorio made a decisive save, blocking Osimhen's close-range header. Spalletti's team completed the comeback in the 32nd minute. Having regained possession, McKennie perfectly timed a through ball to Koopmeiners, who, just inside the box, unleashed a powerful precise shot that flew into the top corner to make it 2-1. Six minutes later, another perfect transition freed Conceicao, but his curling left-footed shot went wide of the far post. The first half ended with the Bianconeri leading by one goal.
The second half began with Galatasaray equalizing with a close-range strike from Lang. In the 60th minute, a deflection off Sanchez from a dead ball made it 3-2 to the Turks. The Bianconeri attempted to reorganize themselves, but in the 67th minute they were left with ten men after Cabal's red card. Despite their best efforts and a few attempts to regain the lead with pride, Lang and Boey found two more goals in the closing stages that put an end to the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs.
