UCL | Juventus 3-2 Galatasaray (5-7 agg): Heroic fight back not enough

Juventus staged a heroic comeback after Lloyd Kelly’s red card to force Galatasaray into extra time 3-0 on the night, but Victor Osimhen sealed their Champions League exit 5-7 on aggregate.

The Bianconeri had a very slim chance of qualifying after the 5-2 first leg defeat in Istanbul, where they had been leading 2-1 until collapsing with Juan Cabal’s red card. He was suspended along with Andrea Cambiaso, plus Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik injured, Gleison Bremer only fit for the bench, and Kenan Yildiz starting despite not being at 100 per cent. Victor Osimhen shrugged off a knee issue to start with fellow ex-Napoli man Noa Lang, while Mario Lemina returned from suspension.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Their capitulation in the first leg was part of a general crisis for Juve, who had one draw in the last five competitive games going into this clash, going out of the Coppa Italia quarter-final and sliding to fifth in Serie A.

There were two big early chances, as Federico Gatti and Teun Koopmeiners couldn’t keep their headers down from six yards, but Mattia Perin made a great save on Osimhen’s volley from a flicked-on throw-in. The goalkeeper stepped in after a series of damaging Michele Di Gregorio howlers.

Osimhen sprinted back trying to help the defence, instead clattering makeshift left-back Weston McKennie for a yellow card, while Manuel Locatelli stung the goalkeeper’s gloves from distance and Francisco Conceicao curled wide on the resulting corner.

Kenan Yildiz forced a fantastic save from Urugcan Cakir at the near post after his shot took a deflection off Davinson Sanchez.

Davinson Sanchez also made an error to spark the Juve attack that resulted in a clumsy Torreira sliding tackle through the back of Khephren Thuram inside the area. Manuel Locatelli converted the penalty to get the Old Lady back in this tie at 3-5 on aggregate.

Locatelli converts from the penalty spot to open the scoring for Juventus!@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/NvLubtSpcg

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

Jonathan David’s very heavy first touch ruined a Kenan Yildiz roll across just before half-time, with Thuram drilling the rebound wide.

Juventus went a man down in Istanbul and it happened again in Turin, albeit in bizarre circumstances. Kelly landed awkwardly and on top of Baris Alper Yilmaz’s calf, so the referee awarded a second yellow card. As the defender was arguing he hadn’t done it on purpose, the referee was called over for the VAR review and changed it to a straight red card instead.

Lloyd Kelly receives a straight red card after VAR review for a challenge on Yılmaz @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9v1LiIvVJJ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

Even down to 10 men, Juve still threatened a goal when Kenan Yildiz squirmed between two and got the finish deflected inches wide of the near post.

Gatti also nodded over again, but finally got a finish on target when he tapped in at the back post on a Pierre Kalulu low cross from the right, making it 4-5 on aggregate.

Game very much alive

Federico Gatti extends the lead for Juventus, reducing the deficit to one against Galatasaray!@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/xThNTu3m7g

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

Osimhen fired over and it was so nearly 5-5 on aggregate with Thuram’s final contribution before being substituted, as he burst into the box and drew out the goalkeeper, floating his lob over the empty net.

Juve came even closer moments later, as Yildiz at full stretch volleyed the Jeremie Boga cross onto the upright from point-blank range.

It was only a warning, as an Edon Zhegrova free kick was knocked down by Koopmeiners for the McKennie header at the far post to make it 3-0 on the night, 5-5 on aggregate.

Weston McKennie fires ten man Juventus level in the tie against Galatasaray @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/qDoybNgSZP

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

Galatasaray threatened on the counter in stoppages, but Baris Alper Yilmaz chose completely the wrong pass for Osimhen, while Kenan Yildiz drilled wide from the edge of the box.

The teams could not be separated and it went to extra time, despite the Bianconeri being down to 10 men since the 48^th minute.

Juve continued to attack and should’ve scored a fourth when Boga rolled across from the left, but McKennie laid it off for Zhegrova to bend horribly wide from 12 yards.

Eren Elmali came sliding in at the far post, just unable to connect with the Leroy Sane cross, but Galatasaray did restore their advantage on aggregate when Gatti slipped trying to intercept the Baris Alper Yilmaz assist and Osimhen drilled the finish through Perin’s legs at the near post.

Victor Osimhen fires Galatasaray back in front on aggregate in extra time @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/TYGLZ5mMBP

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

Juventus kept pushing even with 10 men for an hour, as Zhegrova’s ferocious strike from a tight angle was palmed away, Filip Kostic slipping to fire the rebound wide, then Boga fired a couple of efforts off target.

In the final moments, an inspired Wilfried Singo through ball saw both Osimhen and Baris Alper Yilmaz spring the offside trap, the latter beating on-rushing Perin for Galatasaray to qualify 7-5 on aggregate.

Yılmaz puts it beyond doubt for Galatasaray as they march into the Champions League round of 16 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dlW3XgeE23

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026

There was still applause from the crowd, who appreciated the extraordinary effort made.

Juventus 3-2 Galatasaray aet (5-7 agg)

Locatelli pen 37 (J), Gatti 70 (J), McKennie 82 (J), Osimhen 105 (G), Baris Alper Yilmaz 119 (G)

Sent off: Kelly 48 (J)