Galatasaray will carry a commanding three-goal cushion to Turin after a dramatic 5-2 comeback victory over Italian heavyweights Juventus in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs.
During the first leg played on Tuesday, Juventus had overturned Gabriel Sara’s opener through a rapid Teun Koopmeiners double. That 17-minute burst handed the Serie A side a 2-1 half-time advantage.
However, the Turkish champions emerged transformed after the break, with goals from Noa Lang and Davinson Sanchez turning the contest on its head within 15 minutes.
Juventus collapse as Galatasaray seize total control
Matters worsened for Juventus when half-time substitute Juan Cabal was dismissed. His second yellow card arrived just 21 minutes after he entered the pitch.
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Galatasaray then exploited the numerical advantage ruthlessly as Lang capitalised on slack defending for his second of the night.
Late on, Sacha Boey struck a decisive fifth to underline Okan Buruk’s dominance. The victory means Galatasaray now hold firm control before the return leg in Turin on 25 February.
Tags: Galatasaray, Juventus, #UCL, Champions League, Sacha Boey, Gabriel Sara, Teun Koopmeiners, Noa Lang, Davinson Sanchez, Juan Cabal, Sacha Boey, Okan Buruk, Champions League knockout phase play-offs.
