What Happened
Juventus suffered a significant 5-2 defeat against Galatasaray in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout tie. This loss marks only the second time in the club’s history that they have lost a first leg of a major European knockout tie by a three-goal margin, the last instance being against Real Madrid in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Why It Matters
Galatasaray’s victory places them in a strong position, as they have historically progressed from all 11 of their knockout ties in European competitions when winning the first leg by at least three goals. In contrast, Juventus faces a daunting challenge, as only four teams have successfully overturned a three-goal deficit in the history of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.
What’s Next
Juventus will need to mount a remarkable comeback in the second leg, scheduled for February 25, 2026, at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. The team will be without suspended players Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal, and center back Gleison Bremer’s participation remains uncertain due to injury. With Juventus potentially being the last Italian team in the Champions League, the stakes are high for this upcoming match.
