Juventus Collapse at Galatasaray Extends Champions League

Juventus’ Champions League campaign suffered another damaging setback as they unravelled in a heavy first-leg defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul — a result that further underlines the club’s prolonged European regression.

There had been cautious optimism surrounding Juventus’ trajectory under head coach Luciano Spalletti, appointed last autumn. The Italian side remain embroiled in a top-four battle in Serie A, buoyed by a revitalised attack shaped by Spalletti’s tactical adjustments — including the unconventional deployment of United States international Weston McKennie as a central striker.

For much of the opening half at a raucous Rams Park, the plan appeared to be working. Teun Koopmeiners struck twice to hand Juventus a 2–1 advantage at the interval, placing the visitors in control of an absorbing contest.

Second-Half Collapse

The tide turned swiftly after the restart. Noa Lang equalised in the 49th minute before Davinson Sanchez restored Galatasaray’s lead on the hour mark.

Yet the pivotal moment arrived seven minutes later when Juventus substitute Juan Cabal was dismissed for a second booking, reducing the visitors to ten men.

From that point, Juventus’ resistance evaporated. Lang completed his brace in the 75th minute and Sacha Boey added a fifth in the 86th as Galatasaray ran riot against a defence that had already looked alarmingly fragile.

Even before Cabal’s red card, Juventus had struggled to contain the hosts’ attacking intensity. Galatasaray generated 2.28 expected goals from 17 attempts prior to the dismissal, compared with Juventus’ 1.11 from seven shots. After being reduced to ten men, the Italian side failed to register another attempt on goal.

Defensive Frailties Exposed

While Spalletti’s attacking innovations have delivered measurable improvement — Juventus averaging 1.8 goals per match since his arrival compared to 1.5 beforehand — defensive vulnerabilities remain a persistent concern.

Across the Champions League league phase, Juventus conceded 10 goals in eight matches, ranking mid-table in key defensive metrics. Though they ended that stage with three clean sheets, those shut-outs came against comparatively modest opposition.

Against a dynamic Galatasaray side — spearheaded by the likes of Victor Osimhen, who stretched the defence despite not scoring — those weaknesses were ruthlessly punished.

A Rare European Humiliation

Conceding five goals in a European knockout fixture is an anomaly in Juventus’ storied history, previously occurring only once — against Austria’s Wiener SC in the 1958–59 season.

However, this latest setback feels less like an aberration and more like a continuation of a troubling trend. Since finishing runners-up in the 2016–17 Champions League final, Juventus have reached the quarter-finals just twice and have not progressed beyond the last 16 since 2018–19. They have also failed to make the round of 16 since the 2021–22 campaign and now risk extending that absence.

Signs of Progress — But Structural Issues Persist

There are, admittedly, positives. Koopmeiners’ brace showcased Spalletti’s ability to extract productivity from unlikely sources, while McKennie’s reinvention has been one of the season’s quieter success stories. The American has contributed seven goals and five assists in all competitions — already a career-best return.

Yet an attack operating above expectations can only compensate so much for systemic defensive flaws.

Simply put, Juventus appear ill-equipped to navigate high-intensity European ties against elite opposition. The scale of the defeat may have surprised, but the underlying issues have long been evident.

If anything, the events in Istanbul may represent more than a heavy defeat — they may serve as another stark reminder that Juventus’ era among Europe’s true elite has, for now at least, drifted into the past.