Galatasaray produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Juventus 5–2 in Istanbul, overturning an early deficit and capitalizing on a numerical advantage to seize control of their Champions League knockout tie. After conceding momentum before halftime, the Turkish champions responded with four unanswered goals in a dominant second-half display that left Juventus facing a daunting task ahead of the return leg.
The match began at an intense tempo, with Galatasaray feeding off the energy inside RAMS Park and pushing forward aggressively in the opening minutes. Their early pressure paid off when Gabriel Sara opened the scoring, finishing confidently to give the hosts the advantage and ignite the home crowd.
Juventus responded almost immediately. Teun Koopmeiners equalized within minutes, converting calmly to restore parity and shift the early momentum back toward the Italian side. The quick response settled Juventus, who began to control possession more effectively through midfield combinations and structured build-up play.
The visitors then took the lead before halftime, again through Koopmeiners, who completed his brace to put Juventus ahead. At that stage, the Italian side appeared composed and tactically organized, managing the tempo and frustrating Galatasaray’s attempts to regain control. Juventus entered halftime with a 2–1 advantage and the psychological edge.
However, the entire complexion of the match changed early in the second half.
Galatasaray emerged with renewed intensity and quickly levelled the contest through Noa Lang, whose clinical finish reignited belief among the home supporters. The equalizer shifted momentum decisively, and Juventus struggled to regain their earlier composure as Galatasaray increased attacking pressure.
The turning point arrived when Juventus were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Juan Cabal. The red card dramatically altered the tactical balance, leaving Juventus exposed defensively and forcing them into a deeper, more reactive structure.
Galatasaray capitalized immediately as Davinson Sánchez put the hosts ahead with a crucial goal that completed the turnaround, before Noa Lang struck again to extend the lead and complete his brace. Juventus, now chasing the game with a numerical disadvantage, found it increasingly difficult to contain Galatasaray’s attacking waves.
With the visitors stretched and vulnerable, Galatasaray sealed the emphatic victory late on when Sacha Boey added the fifth goal, completing a remarkable second-half surge that transformed a deficit into a commanding win.
Galatasaray’s success was built on intensity, wide attacking movement, and relentless pressing after halftime. Once Juventus went down to ten men, the Turkish side exploited spaces intelligently, particularly in transition phases and overlapping runs from wide areas.
Juventus initially controlled the match well, but the red card forced them into defensive survival mode. Their inability to maintain compactness while chasing the game ultimately proved costly, allowing Galatasaray to dominate the final stages.
The 5–2 result gives Galatasaray a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Turin as Juventus must now overturn a three-goal deficit, a difficult challenge even with home support.
Champions League knockout ties often turn on moments of momentum and discipline, and Galatasaray mastered both after halftime. Their resilience, attacking quality, and ability to exploit Juventus’ numerical disadvantage produced a statement victory that places them firmly in control of the tie.
