What Happened
In a stunning first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff, Juventus suffered a 5-2 defeat against Galatasaray. This loss marks only the second time Juventus has lost a first leg of a major European knockout tie by a three-goal margin, previously occurring in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid.
Why It Matters
Galatasaray’s commanding victory puts them in a strong position, as they have progressed from all 11 of their knockout ties in European competition when winning the first leg by at least three goals. Historically, teams that have lost the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie by three or more goals have a very low success rate in overturning the deficit, with only four out of 49 teams achieving this feat before this season.
What’s Next
Juventus will host Galatasaray at Allianz Stadium on February 25, 2026, needing to score at least three goals to have any hope of advancing. However, Juventus has never overturned a three-goal deficit in Champions League history and enters the match on a five-game winless streak, including four losses. Meanwhile, Galatasaray aims to reach the round of 16 for the first time since the 2013-14 season, despite their poor away record against Italian teams.
