In one of the most electrifying nights of European football this season, Galatasaray mounted a sensational second-half comeback to defeat Juventus 5-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout round playoff at RAMS Park.
The Turkish champions overturned a halftime deficit by scoring three goals after the interval, with the match turning decisively in their favor following the dismissal of Juventus defender Juan David Cabal.
The drama unfolded before a fervent home crowd as both teams delivered a frenetic opening that produced three goals within a devastating 17-minute spell.
Galatasaray drew first blood in the 15th minute when Gabriel Sara capitalized on a costly mistake from Turkish international Kenan Yildiz, who was playing against the side from his home country.
Yildiz’s poor touch inside his own area allowed Victor Osimhen to pounce and feed Noa Lang, whose initial shot was blocked before Sara smashed the rebound into the bottom corner to send the RAMS Park into raptures.
Yet the lead lasted barely sixty seconds. Juventus showed remarkable resilience as Andrea Cambiaso delivered an excellent cross from the right flank, finding Pierre Kalulu whose powerful header was initially saved by Ugurcan Çakir.
The alert Teun Koopmeiners was first to react, bundling home the rebound from close range to restore parity almost immediately.
The Dutch midfielder then completed his brace in the 32nd minute to put the visitors ahead.
A swift Juventus counter-attack saw Weston McKennie release Koopmeiners, who exchanged passes with the American before unleashing a precise left-footed strike that flew under the crossbar, leaving Çakir with no chance.
The half ended with Juventus holding a slender advantage, though they suffered a significant blow when Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury, replaced by Federico Gatti.
Whatever Okan Buruk said in the dressing room transformed his side completely. Galatasaray emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and needed just four minutes to draw level.
Baris Alper Yilmaz powered past Cabal, who had replaced Cambiaso at the break, and forced a save from Michele Di Gregorio. The Italian goalkeeper could only parry the ball into the path of Noa Lang, who gleefully tapped in from close range to make it 2-2.
The momentum had shifted decisively in favor of the home side. In the 60th minute, Gabriel Sara’s dangerous free-kick delivery caused chaos in the Juventus penalty area, and Davinson Sánchez rose highest to guide a shoulder deflection past Di Gregorio from close range, sending the Turkish fans into delirium once more.
Seven minutes later, Juventus’s hopes of a recovery suffered a terminal blow. Juan David Cabal, already booked for a foul on Yilmaz shortly after Sánchez’s goal, was shown a second yellow card for another challenge on the same rampaging forward.
The Colombian’s dismissal left Luciano Spalletti’s side with ten men for the final quarter of the game, and Galatasaray ruthlessly exploited their numerical advantage.
Lang grabbed his second of the night in the 74th minute, finishing calmly from the center of the box after more sustained pressure from the hosts. The Dutch winger’s brace capped a magnificent individual performance and effectively sealed the victory.
Substitute Sacha Boey then added a fifth in the 86th minute, collecting the ball on the right side of the area before unleashing a stunning strike that curled into the top left corner, completing a comprehensive rout and sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters.
The result leaves Galatasaray in a commanding position ahead of the second leg in Turin, carrying a three-goal cushion to the Allianz Stadium.
For Juventus, the task is now monumental: overturning a 5-2 deficit while recovering from a defensive injury crisis and the suspension of Cabal. The Bianconeri, who had entered the match following a controversial derby defeat to Inter, now face the very real prospect of Champions League elimination at the first knockout hurdle.