JUVENTUS SEASON 2025-2026

[Socrates 9848]

[Socrates 9848]

[Socrates 9848]

Juventus have a mountain to climb after 5-2 loss to Galatasaray

 

 

Juventus suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League playoff this evening. The Bianconeri travelled to Istanbul for what was expected to be a stern test and quickly discovered why visiting sides often struggle in that environment.

 

The atmosphere inside the stadium was intense, with Galatasaray supporters creating relentless noise in an effort to unsettle the Juventus players. The Turkish side has enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign and is determined to translate that form onto the European stage, fully aware that Juventus represented formidable opposition. ............

 

Galatasaray struck first when Gabriel Sara opened the scoring for the home side, putting Juve on the back foot early in the contest. However, the Bianconeri responded almost immediately through Teun Koopmeiners, who restored parity with a composed finish.

 

The Dutch midfielder then struck again 16 minutes later to give Juventus the lead for the first time in the match. At that stage, the visitors appeared to have weathered the early storm and were beginning to assert control.

 

Their momentum was disrupted, though, when Gleison Bremer was forced off with what appeared to be a serious injury. Despite that setback, Juventus went into the interval ahead, raising hopes of a positive result in a notoriously difficult venue. ............

 

The contest shifted dramatically after the restart. Noa Lang and Davinson Sanchez both found the net in quick succession, turning the game in Galatasaray’s favour and swinging the momentum firmly towards the hosts.

 

Matters deteriorated further for Juventus when Juan Cabal, who had been introduced at halftime, received two yellow cards in rapid succession and was dismissed. Reduced to ten men, Juve struggled to contain their opponents.

 

Galatasaray capitalised fully on the numerical advantage, adding two further goals to secure a commanding 5-2 victory. Juventus now faces a daunting task in the return leg, with a significant deficit to overturn if they are to progress in the competition.

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-have-a-mountain-to-climb-after-5-2-loss-to-galatasaray/

[Socrates 9848]

Player Ratings: Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus – Bianconeri collapse against Osimhen and Lang

 

 

Di Gregorio 5 – A couple of decent saves here and there, but it was always too easy for Juventus opponents to score. The Italian didn’t look confident on set pieces and with distribution.

Kalulu 6 – Straight back to action after Saturday’s controversy against Inter, the French played a key role in Teun Koopmeiners’ equaliser, forcing a save from Ugurcan Cakir before the rebound was tapped home.

Bremer 6.5 – Injured early in the first half, but remained on the pitch until the Bianconeri took the lead. Juventus collapsed after he left the field. (34′ Gatti 4)

Kelly 4 – A positive performance in the first half, but the Englishman faded after the break. He lost the ball inside the box for Galatasaray’s fourth goal and lost yet another duel against Osimhen for the fifth.

Cambiaso 6.5 –  ............ (46′ Cabal 3 – A terrible impact. In the wrong position for Gala’s equaliser, then caused the free kick that led to the opponents’ third goal. Very few successful passes. Two yellow cards in 20 minutes. A disaster.)

Koopmeiners 7  – He had no goals and no assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this season. No Champions League in his career. All of a sudden, he showed why Juventus paid €60m for him over 18 months ago.

Locatelli 5 –  ............

Thuram 4.5 – Back to action after missing Saturday’s game against Inter. The Frenchman was sloppy on the ball and made a dangerous backpass that Galatasaray converted in their fourth goal. (80′ Miretti N/A).

Conceicao 5 –  ............ (70′ Kostic 5).

McKennie 6.5 –  ............

Yildiz 4.5 – The homeboy didn’t seem fully fit as he often checked on his knee during the match. He also lost possession in a danger zone, leading to Galatasaray’s opening goal. He was never dangerous and was subbed off when the game was practically over (81′ Openda N/A).

 

Coach: Spalletti 4 – A shocking result, a disastrous second half for the Bianconeri. Still not clear why he replaced Cambiaso after a brilliant first-half performance. Cabal dragged the team down, and this time, Juventus sank rather than reacting.

 

Galatasaray: Ugurcan Cakir 6; Sallai 6, Sanchez 7, Abdulkerim Bardakci 7 (77′ Singo N/A), Jakobs 6.5 (83′ Elmali N/A); Torreira 7, Gabriel Sara 8.5; Baris Alper Yilmaz 7.5 (77′ Icardi N/A), Yunus Akgun 7.5 (70′ Sané), Lang 7.5 (83′ Boey); Osimhen 8. Coach: Buruk 8.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-galatasaray-vs-juventus-cabal/

Modificato Martedì alle 23:04 da Socrates

[Socrates 9848]

Spalletti: ‘Juventus took 3 steps back with Galatasaray, always risk conceding’

 

 

Luciano Spalletti admits Juventus ‘took three steps back’ in their 5-2 Champions League play-off defeat to Galatasaray, warning they are ‘always at risk of conceding goals.’

 

The Bianconeri had managed to turn around an early Gabriel Sara goal with the Teun Koopmeiners brace to go into half-time leading 2-1 in Istanbul.

 

It all fell apart after the break, when Juan Cabal replaced Andrea Cambiaso because the Italian was on a yellow card, but he made two crucial errors for goals and then received a red card.

 

Juve crumbled down to 10 men, as Noa Lang scored twice, plus Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey for the 5-2 result. ............

 

“We ended the first half badly, tried to get back into shape and changed a few things, but we really dropped off in terms of character,” Spalletti said.

 

“It was not one step back, but three steps back this evening. Clearly, Cambiaso risked a second yellow card at the end of the first half, in these games when you have someone on a card, it is wise to do something with the substitutions.

 

“However, we received two more yellow cards in the first 15-odd minutes, then we did further damage to ourselves by not recognising the danger in those situations.” ............

 

“I am convinced that we can lighten the load on the defence if we manage to play football. If we set up barricades and go on the counter, we don’t have players suited to that sort of approach, we don’t have those solid enough to let nothing through,” noted Spalletti.

 

“So I believe attack is the best form of defence, taking the front foot. If we drop below our standards of quality, then we are always at risk of conceding goals.” ............

 

“I want them to play the ball in normal situations, but when there is extreme danger, you kick it away. I want us to create something going forward, not just breaking up the play. Not every situation is the same, sometimes you kick it away and release some pressure. I like to play the ball in general, but there are different situations.

 

“When down to 10 men, that’s a difficult situation, we made the substitution to take pressure off one player and his replacement receives two yellow cards in 20 minutes, that makes everything tougher.

 

“Quite apart from the cards, the whole team took a few steps back in various ways today.”

 

Juventus now have a huge mountain to climb for the second leg of the Champions League play-off, as they need a 3-0 result just to force extra time.

 

“Of course we’ll try to climb that mountain, try to organise a comeback. Clearly, we must take on responsibility for what happened and for the decisions we take during the match,” noted Spalletti. ............

 

Gleison Bremer limped off during half-time with a muscular issue, so is there any news yet on his condition?

 

“We have to evaluate Bremer, as he might have some problems.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-3-steps-back-galatasaray/

[Socrates 9848]

Koopmeiners ‘can’t be happy’ after two goals in 5-2 Juventus loss

 

 

Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners ‘can’t be happy’ after scoring a brace against Galatasaray as the Bianconeri slumped to a 5-2 loss away at Galatasaray in the Champions League. ............

 

Koopmeiners scored his first goals this season and his first two in the Champions League before the break, giving Juventus a 2-1 lead.

 

“I think we played a good first half; we scored two great goals. We said in the dressing room that we had to keep the ball possession longer, but the way the second half went was not good,” the Dutch midfielder said.

 

“We must look at the videos and know that there’s a new game next week.” ............

 

The decider will be played in Turin on Wednesday next week.

 

“We must improve and score three goals at least; it’s easy,” said the Juventus midfielder. ............

 

“I started well with this coach, I scored two important goals in the first half, but I can’t be happy. Because nothing matters when you look at the second half. We scored twice, but we need at least three in the next one.

 

“I feel well in this position. I think I can contribute with goals. I told myself I had to score more goals. I did it in the first half, but we had to do more in the second.”

 

Juventus have lost three of their last four games across all competitions, drawing once, and conceding 13 goals in the process. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/koopmeiners-not-happy-two-goals-5-2-loss/

[Socrates 9848]

Capuano says Juventus collapse is a “wake-up call for other Italian teams”

 

 

Juventus suffered a 5-2 defeat against Galatasaray this evening, a result that leaves them requiring nothing short of a miracle in Turin to progress in the Champions League. The Bianconeri had fought back impressively after conceding first and were 2-1 ahead before the interval, appearing firmly in control of the tie at half-time.

 

However, their advantage evaporated dramatically during the second half. Juventus struggled to maintain their composure and discipline, and the dismissal of Juan Cabal proved particularly damaging. Reduced to ten men, they were unable to contain a resurgent Galatasaray side, who struck four times to secure a commanding lead ahead of the return leg. ............

 

The two clubs will meet again in Turin, where Juventus must score four unanswered goals to overturn the deficit. Achieving such a result will be a formidable challenge against a Galatasaray team that has demonstrated it possesses the attacking quality to trouble any opponent. ............

 

Journalist Giovanni Capuano observed Juventus’ second-half implosion and suggested that it should serve as a lesson for other Italian teams competing in Europe. He reflected on the performance and its wider implications.

 

Capuano said:

 

“Juventus collapsed in Istanbul, compromising their Champions League bid.

 

“Turning things around in a week’s time will be a feat, and the extent of their collapse, including their physical condition, is a wake-up call for other Italian teams in Europe as well.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-says-juventus-collapse-is-a-wake-up-call-for-other-italian-teams/

[Socrates 9848]

Galatasaray 5 - Juventus 2: Initial reaction and random observations

 

 

Over the weekend, you could pin Juventus’ loss down to simple refereeing incompetence no matter what Luciano Spalletti’s squad did, no matter how much they fought to tie the game and just give us pride in their effort despite being on the wrong end of things on the scoreboard.

 

What happened in Turkiye a little less than 72 hours later was not comporable.

 

Juventus didn’t just lose to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League play-off round tie on Tuesday evening. The Bianconeri, despite getting two goals from a player who hadn’t scored since the beloved tournament known as the Club World Cup, just completely imploded in the second half in Istanbul. Galatasaray, a side that Spalletti knew were going to be quite a tough task to play against even if his team played well, just jumped all over Juventus both before and after Juan Cabal got sent off to send his team down to 10 men. What happened was something that even in the craziest of predictions nobody saw coming …

 

A 5-2 loss and the hopes of getting to the UCL Round of 16 on absolute life support, if not flat-lining already.

 

The second leg may be next Wednesday night, but even to make a game of it is feeling like a monumental task. Trying to even get ahead of a Galatasaray team that is just scoring for fun these days? That feels like it’s pretty much reserved for much, much more talented Juventus squads than this one is.

 

No matter how you slice it, this was bad. And on a night when they just needed to avoid complete disaster to give them a shot next week to make it to the next phase of the knockout rounds, they completely fell flat on their face.

 

And not just giving up five (or more) goals in a European tie for the first time in nearly 70 freaking years, but they did it in a way in which we’ve rarely seen a Juventus team blow up. Which, you know, says something because it’s hard to forget some of the complete disasters this club has had the last couple of years. ............

 

The simple part is that, well, playing with 10 men for the second straight game is a lot harder than when you’re at full strength. Hey, breaking news, right? But even before Cabal got sent off for his second yellow after coming on for Andrea Cambiaso to prevent him from getting sent off, things were starting to seriously teeter well before then. Juventus barely had an answer for Galatasaray in the second half while it was still 11-on-11, with the Bremer-sized hole in the Juve defense making things even the more of a delicate issue.

 

But once that red and yellow snowball at the RAMS Park started rolling, Juventus just couldn’t slow it down. Then Cabal, a player who has looked far from a certainty in all aspects of his game this season, got sent off and Galatasaray could sense that it was time to turn things up even more and take complete control of the game, the tie and send Juventus into what will likely be their final 90 minutes of European football this season next Wednesday in Turin.

 

There is no one player who is responsible for this. Cabal certainly played his part, and a big one at that. But this was a team that had the lead at halftime completely falling apart pretty much everywhere you looked. In one of the most hostile atmospheres that this team will see all season, they gave an absolutely raucous crowd plenty of reasons to celebrate and have a good laugh (or 10) at Juventus’ expense. ............

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• A 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the Coppa Italia.
• A 2-2 draw with a Lazio side that nearly smashed-and-grabbed their way to a win.
• A 3-2 loss to Inter in the Derby d’Italia, although with very obvious caveats attached to it.
• Now an embarrassing 5-2 loss to Galatasaray to give themselves virtually no chance of making it into the Champions League Round of 16.
• That’s 13 goals allowed in the last four games. That’s not good at all, folks.
• Something about a guy named Juan from Colombia coming off the bench in a Champions League fixture and then getting two yellows in the second half and being sent off. Not the first time. Hopefully it’s the last for a long time.
• The complete irony of Cabal getting sent off is that he was introduced for the exact reason Spalletti was trying to avoid. Cambiaso was being exposed (again) defensively, was on a yellow and got the hook because of it. All Cabal had to avoid was the one thing Spalletti didn’t want to see happen with Cambiaso … and he went and got sent off within 22 minutes of coming on. You sometimes can’t make this stuff up.
• Juventus finished with 1.13 xG. As you can imagine, just about all of that came in the first half.
• Galatasaray had 2.12 xG — in the second half alone. And on just nine shots, too. Amazing.
• Four of Gala’s nine second-half shots were considered Big Changes. Seems bad.
• I won’t rip Michele Di Gregorio like some will (and are) for allowing some of those goals, but man it’s a tough spot to be in when this defense feels like it’s living on a cliff’s edge and a goalkeeper is not always appearing to be that safety net. He made some really nice saves, but there still feels like there needs to be more from him some of the time.
• That being said, the defense in from of Di Gregorio was just a complete mess before and after Bremer came off. Just a complete mess and there’s nothing more to say about that.
• Are we now seeing why Federico Gatti isn’t playing much these days? As much as you can say he’s potentially working his way back from physical issues, it’s not like he’s been all that good — at all! — when he has played since coming back a few weeks back.
• Manuel Locatelli was immense against Inter over the weekend. The same cannot be said against Gala.
• Seriously, two goals from Koopmeiners. Two really nice goals. And they will be completely forgotten because of what happened after Juventus went ahead 2-1.
• I mean, that second Koopmeiners goal was like Atalanta Koopmeieners. That layoff from Weston McKennie was great, too. The finish was the cherry on top. It’s something we’ve basically been waiting 18 months for from Koopmeiners.
• Did any of the five players Spalletti brought off the bench inspire a ton of confidence? Because I’m not really feeling it.
• Juan Cabal is another Cristiano Giuntoli gift that keeps on giving. Grazie, grazie. ............
• Dare I ask, but I’ll do it anyways: How many Juventus players making it into the starting lineup that Galatasaray rolled out on Tuesday? It’s not a lot — and that’s a big part of the problem.
• Kenan Yildiz’s first game in Turkiye for Juventus will always be associated with this result. That’s so sad for such a wonderful young man. He doesn’t deserve that. ............

Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/36583/galatasaray-juventus-2026-champions-league-playoff-round-leg-1-final-score-result-initial-reaction-random-observations

[Socrates 9848]

“We lacked courage” Locatelli explains Juventus’ loss in Istanbul

 

 

Manuel Locatelli has admitted that Juventus lacked the courage required to secure a positive result against Galatasaray, as the Turkish side recorded a resounding 5-2 victory. The defeat leaves the Bianconeri facing a daunting challenge in the return leg of their European tie.

 

Juventus had entered the fixture in encouraging form in continental competition and began the match with confidence. By halftime, they held a 2-1 advantage and appeared well-positioned either to close out the contest or, at the very least, avoid defeat. ............

 

The game, however, unravelled dramatically after the interval. Juventus lost their composure, and Galatasaray capitalised ruthlessly, scoring four additional goals to seize complete control of the tie. Defensive lapses and a drop in intensity proved costly, transforming a promising position into a heavy defeat.

 

The result means that, in Turin, Juventus must score four unanswered goals to progress to the next round. ............

 

Locatelli addressed the shortcomings in the aftermath of the match. He acknowledged both tactical and individual failings. He said:

 

“We made mistakes we shouldn’t have made, even on the ball. We lacked courage, and we paid for it.”

 

On the possibility of a comeback, he added:

 

“It’s clear now that it’s difficult to talk about it. We have Como, and then at home we’ll try to give it our all. We have to believe in it; it will be very difficult, but we have to put our heart and soul into it.” ............

 

“The red card affected the match, but we made individual mistakes. We didn’t have the same reaction; we were exhausted and struggled. These are steps we need to take, and quickly.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/we-lacked-courage-locatelli-explains-juventus-loss-in-istanbul/

[Socrates 9848]

Del Piero reacts to Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus hammering: ‘That’s the reality’

 

 

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has had his say on the 5-2 hammering by Galatasaray in the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday evening, and has claimed that it might not be ‘the worst of evils for this side to play one game a week’ if they are to be knocked out of the competition next week.

 

Juventus’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 were dealt an enormous blow after a 5-2 defeat away against Galatasaray in the first leg of their play-off round tie on Tuesday night. ............

 

The situation means that Juventus need to win by a three goal margin at a minimum in the return leg at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday if they are to keep their Champions League campaign alive. ............

 

“All aspects affected Spalletti, outlining that everything went wrong,” Del Piero said.

 

“It shows that if Juventus aren’t at their best, then this is what they risk. That’s the reality. They risk making trivial mistakes, which are punished, they risk not having a real presence on the pitch.

 

“Galatasaray played an excellent game, they played better. Juve struggled a lot, mentally and physically.

 

“When you play every three days and you need to be at your best in every game, that’s where you see the real potential in a team and where it can aspire to finish. If Juve can’t find that, they will struggle with having three games a week, despite what they had shown in the weeks before.” ............

 

“They need to reverse their energy if they are to get through to the next round, because those Galatasaray players were almost possessed.”

 

And if the Champions League journey were to come to an end for Juventus next week, Del Piero admitted: “Maybe it’s not the worst of evils for this Juventus side to play one game a week.”

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/del-piero-reacts-to-galatasaray-5-2-juventus/

[Socrates 9848]

Beniamino Vignola explains why he does not trust the Juventus defence

 

 

Former Juventus star Beniamino Vignola does not believe the club’s defence is strong enough to overturn their first-leg loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League next week. The Turkish side defeated the Bianconeri 5-2, leaving Juventus needing three unanswered goals to force extra time in the return fixture.

 

At one stage in the match, Juventus held a 2-1 lead and appeared on course to secure an advantage from the first leg. However, Galatasaray capitalised on Juventus’ defensive frailties. A red card for Juan Cabal further weakened the Italian side, and the visitors ultimately secured a comprehensive 5-2 victory. ............

 

The result came as a significant shock, and the men at the Allianz Stadium now face a daunting challenge if they are to progress to the next round. Many supporters and analysts believe there is no route back into the tie. However, only the first leg has been played, and football has repeatedly shown that dramatic turnarounds are possible.

 

Juventus will attempt to mount a response when they host Galatasaray in Turin. Overturning a three-goal deficit will require discipline, intensity, and defensive stability. Yet Vignola, who previously won the European Cup with the Old Lady, has expressed serious reservations about the current back line. ............

 

Vignola was candid in his evaluation of the team’s defensive shortcomings. He said:

 

“The defence today offers no certainty. And we’re giving the opponent too much space. The only ray of sunshine, albeit briefly, was Koopmeiners, who scored two important goals, one of which was truly beautiful. Unfortunately, it happened in a terrible match, but I hope this can give him that extra something he was looking for to finally break free.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/beniamino-vignola-explains-why-he-does-not-trust-the-juventus-defence/

[Socrates 9848]

Juventus must make history to overcome Galatasaray in play-off second leg

 

 

Juventus conceded five goals in a European match for just the second time in the club’s history with their 5-2 loss away against Galatasaray on Tuesday night, and now the Bianconeri are left needing to make history if they are to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.

 

Juventus’s Champions League play-off round got off to the worst possible of starts after a 5-2 thrashing in Istanbul on Tuesday evening: Teun Koopmeiners came up with a half-time brace, but the Old Lady were overwhelmed with goals from Gabriel Sara, Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey.

 

Gleison Bremer was forced off with an injury in the second half, and half-time substitute Juan Cabal was also sent off in the 67th minute.

 

Not since a 7-0 defeat against Wiener Sport-Club in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of the 1958/59 European Cup have Juventus conceded five or more goals in a European match. ............

 

Juventus are left needing a three-goal victory at a minimum if they are to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 alive. Even more damning for the Bianconeri and their hopes of progressing is previous the precedent set by Lazio, Inter and Roma. 

 

There has only ever been four times previously that an Italian side has conceded five goals or more in the first of a two-legged European tie. Those results were as follows:

• Valencia 5-2 Lazio 1999-2000 (Champions League)
• Inter 2-5 Schalke 2010-11 (Champions League)
• Liverpool 5-2 Roma 2017-18 (Champions League)
• Manchester United 6-2 Roma 2020-21 (Europa League)

On all four of those previous occasions, the Italian sides were knocked out in the second leg.

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-must-make-history-to-overcome-gala/

[Socrates 9848]

Sandro Sabatini thinks a miracle is needed for Juventus in Turin

 

 

Sandro Sabatini believes Juventus would require a miracle to overturn their heavy first-leg defeat against Galatasaray when the sides meet again in Turin. The men at the Allianz Stadium were beaten 5-2 in Istanbul, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return fixture.

 

Juventus must score three goals without reply to level the tie and force extra time. To progress outright, they would need to win 4-0 on the night and complete a 6-5 aggregate victory. It is an immense challenge, but the occasion presents the players with an opportunity to demonstrate character and resilience under pressure. ............

 

Galatasaray made full use of home advantage in the first leg, punishing Juventus and securing a commanding lead. The Bianconeri had aimed to either take a positive result from the opening encounter or at least keep the scoreline respectable in the event of defeat. Losing by a three-goal margin meant they achieved neither objective.

 

As a result, the Old Lady must now attempt something extraordinary to remain in the competition. ............

 

Reflecting on what lies ahead, Sabatini offered a measured assessment of the situation. He said:

 

“It must be said that the return leg is still pending, so Juventus should be given the opportunity to erase the criticism and make amends in Turin with a comeback that would be miraculous, given what we saw in the 5-2 first leg defeat in Istanbul.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/sandro-sabatini-thinks-a-miracle-is-needed-for-juventus-in-turin/

[Socrates 9848]

Juventus matched a sixty-seven-year-old unwanted record against Galatasaray

 

 

Juventus were beaten 5-2 by Galatasaray in the Champions League last night, a result that ranks among their heaviest defeats in European competition. The Bianconeri have long been regarded as one of the continent’s most established clubs, and Serie A is widely considered one of the top five leagues in Europe. ............

 

Galatasaray boasts several high-profile players, including Victor Osimhen, yet there had been an expectation that Juventus would at least secure a draw before returning to Turin. That scenario did not materialise. Instead, the Bianconeri suffered a comprehensive defeat that leaves them needing to win by three clear goals at home to force extra time.

 

The manner of the loss has intensified scrutiny on Juventus. Conceding five goals in a single European fixture is a rare occurrence for a club of their pedigree. Defensive frailties were exposed, and the scale of the defeat has left supporters deeply frustrated. ............

 

This was the first time Juventus had conceded five goals in a European match since the 1958,1959 season, when they were beaten 7-0 by Wiener SC. The statistic underlines the historical significance of the setback.

 

Such a result will linger in the memory of fans for years to come. While the tie is not yet mathematically beyond them, Juventus now face an enormous task in Turin. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-matched-a-sixty-seven-year-old-unwanted-record-against-galatasaray/

[Socrates 9848]

Former Juventus midfielder Mauro: ‘Cambiaso & Cabal are not the problem…’

 

 

Former Juventus midfielder Massimo Mauro has claimed that whilst there is nothing special about struggling left-backs Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal, there is a deeper rooted problem at the club in that they are missing the “five or six players who control the game, the ones they’ve always had.”

 

Mauro said “Cambiaso isn’t a leader, he’s just a normal person.”

 

However, he added that “neither he nor [Juan] Cabal are Juventus’ problem – rather the lack of five or six players who control the game, the ones they’ve always had.”

 

Mauro, on the whole, was not impressed by the players at Juventus’ disposal and claimed that “the coach [Luciano Spalletti] is the only one the club need to keep.” ............

 

Cabal had only come on for Cambiaso at half-time and it took him twenty minutes to pick up two yellow cards, putting a massive dent in the Bianconeri’s hopes of staying in the Champions League. ............

 

It would now take a miracle in Turin for Juventus to qualify for the next round but former players like Mauro remain unconvinced that the club have what it takes to pull it out of the bag. ............

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Read more -> https://football-italia.net/former-juventus-mauro-cambiaso-cabal/

[Socrates 9848]

Spalletti reveals what Juventus must do when Galatasaray comes to Turin

 

 

Luciano Spalletti faces a significant challenge as he prepares his Juventus side for the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Galatasaray next week. The Bianconeri trail 5-2 on aggregate, leaving them with a formidable task in Turin. To force extra time, they must win by three clear goals, a scenario that demands a near-flawless performance.

 

Juventus will reflect on a first leg in which they were expected to produce far more. Supporters are now questioning whether the team possesses the resilience required to overturn such a deficit. At halftime in Istanbul, the contest appeared balanced, yet the momentum shifted dramatically. The Italian side ultimately collapsed in what is widely regarded as one of the noisiest stadium environments in European football. ............

 

Before attention turns fully to the decisive encounter, Juventus must navigate its next domestic commitment. Nevertheless, the manager is acutely aware that improvements are essential if they are to revive their European hopes. Defensive concentration, tactical discipline, and composure will be critical. ............

 

The Juventus manager outlined the approach required for the return leg. He said:

 

“Only one way, by coming back. We have to be careful; they have counterattacking players and fast players up front. We need to keep them tactically balanced.”

 

His comments highlight the delicate balance Juventus must strike. While chasing goals, they cannot afford to expose themselves to Galatasaray’s pace on the counterattack. ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/spalletti-reveals-what-juventus-must-do-when-galatasaray-comes-to-turin/

[Socrates 9848]

Del Piero says Galatasaray player scared Juventus

 

 

Alessandro Del Piero believes Victor Osimhen caused significant problems for Juventus during Galatasaray’s emphatic 5-2 victory in the Champions League. The Nigerian forward, formerly of Napoli, has emerged as a leading figure for Galatasaray and continues to deliver impressive performances on European nights.

 

Osimhen’s pace and relentless pressing unsettled the Bianconeri defence throughout the match. His movement and physical presence forced repeated errors, placing Juventus under constant pressure. The Bianconeri attempted to recover and limit the damage to make the return leg in Turin more manageable. However, their efforts proved insufficient. ............

 

Del Piero, reflecting on the encounter, singled out the Nigerian striker as the decisive figure in the contest. His assessment focused not only on Osimhen’s technical ability, but also on the psychological impact he had on the opposition defence. ............

 

Del Piero said: “Juve are struggling to find players today. Beyond Osimhen, who’s better than David, or Icardi, who’s better than Openda, beyond these beliefs, there’s the result on the pitch. Osimhen scares you, his presence scares you, he’s ruthless in front of goal, he has quality.” ............

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Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/del-piero-says-galatasaray-player-scared-juventus/

[Socrates 9848]

Le Pagelle: Juventus vs. Galatasaray

 

 

Things were looking good for Juventus at halftime of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round against Galatasaray. They’d responded to falling behind in less than 90 seconds, and had come all the way back to take a 2-1 lead into the locker rooms.

 

The less said about what happened when they emerged from those locker rooms, the better.

 

After a complete meltdown, Juve go into the second leg down 5-2. I wouldn’t quite say they need a miracle to come back in this tie, but needing a three-goal win to merely send the tie to extra time is certainly a mountain to climb. ............

 

MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 5. Didn’t have the usual command of his box, and his touch on Galatasaray’s equalizer was pretty weak. Sacha Boey’s goal to finish things off might’ve also been something he should’ve stopped. Certainly not his best today.

PIERRE KALULU - 6.  ............

BREMER - 6. Played well and kept old foe Victor Osimhen on the periphery for most of his time on the pitch. He took a huge risk by staying on the field after he felt that hamstring go, and it’s a huge relief that he reportedly won’t miss much time. As we’ve seen the last year and a half, without him this defense loses quality by an order of magnitude.

LLOYD KELLY - 5.  ............

ANDREA CAMBIASO - 5.5.  ............

KHÉPHREN THURAM - 4. Made a single key pass but barely completed 70 percent of his overall attempts, and his brain fart of a pass back into his own box led to this match getting out of hand. A game he’d like to forget.

MANUEL LOCATELLI - 5.  ............

TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 6.5. After not contributing to a goal all year, he pulls out two at a time when the team really needed them. His second one in particular is the kind of hit that Juve expected a lot of when they paid for him. If this starts pointing him upwards, it would be a huge boon.

FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 5.  ............

WESTON McKENNIE - 6. Didn’t play as a pure striker, especially after the red, but in the first half he was effective at pulling an overeager Davinson Sánchez out of position to create lanes for runners. His one-two pass with Koopmeiners for Juve’s second goal was beautiful. He even ended up leading the team in blocks once they were pressed back.

KENAN YILDIZ - 5.5. Looked tired and a little bit gimpy, grabbing at his ankle and knee a lot after an early tackle. Had one nice-looking shot that was deflected behind, and did come up with four dribbles and three key passes, but his oomph was missing.

SUBS

FEDERICO GATTI - 4.5.  ............

JUAN CABAL - 2. I started doing these ratings full-time in the 2017-18 season, and I had never given anything below a 3 until now—and that included the game where instead of talking about how bad Leonardo Bonucci had been I just added a GIF of a dumpster on fire. This was an absolute farce of a performance. He fared even worse than Cambiaso did against Yilmaz, with his mistakes directly leading to two of the four goals Galatasaray scored in the second half. Got two yellows in an eight-minute span after being sent on to protect Cambiaso from the same fate.

FILIP KOSTIC - 5.5.  ............

FABIO MIRETTI - NR.  ............

LOÏS OPENDA - NR.  ............

MANAGER ANALYSIS

It looked as though Luciano Spalletti had really thought this through after losing Jonathan David to injury in the lead-up to this game. McKennie looked as good as any false nine could have in the first half, and the team deserved their lead at the break.

 

Everything went wrong in the second half. I’ve praised what Spalletti has done from the mental side of things for this team for weeks, but whether it was the pressure of the moment, the pressure of the crowd—which was absolutely seething—or the pressure on the field as Galatasaray ramped up the pressure in the second half, they collapsed. Even in the first half we saw some mental errors, like Yildiz’s turnover that led to the first goal. Hopefully this will be a learning experience for some of the younger players, but, as Spalletti said postgame, they’re in an arena where they have to play spot-on to get things done, and the second half was anything but.

 

Spalletti isn’t immune to criticism either. When the game was still on Gala were showing some holes that Juve might’ve been able to shoot a counterattack through—the kind of game that Openda’s skill set is made for. But by the time he actually put the Belgian on, the horses weren’t just out of the barn, they were in another farm the next county over. It was clear that the game had been shifting to the hosts even before Cabal was sent off, and it felt like there needed to be a shift earlier than there was. Perhaps Spalletti was gun-shy because he only had two sub windows left after Bremer had had to give way in the first half. Regardless, this was one of those games we’ve seen on occasion where Spalletti simply doesn’t read it well, or if he has he hasn’t acted properly.

 

He’s going to have some shifting to do with both Cambiaso and Cabal out for the second leg (and Cabal would’ve been suspended anyway because the first card put him over the suspension threshold). He’ll need to hope he gets some players back—especially Bremer—in order to pull off something special and get back into this tie.

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Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/36617/le-pagelle-juventus-galatasaray-player-ratings-manager-analysis-2026-uefa-champions-league-playoff-first-leg-final-score-result-vs-galatasaray