Juventus Turin bid farewell to the prestigious Champions League after an emotionally charged second leg against Galatasaray Istanbul. Although the Old Lady won 3-2 at home, the loss in the first leg and the aggregate score favored the Turkish team. The match was overshadowed by a controversial red card shown to Lloyd Kelly, which was awarded by Polish referee Tomasz Kwiatkowski after a VAR review, overturning his initial decision for a yellow card.

VAR Controversy Involving Pole

Tomasz Kwiatkowski changed Kelly's yellow card to a red, which according to many experts was a key mistake of the match.

Juventus Wins But Is Eliminated

A 3-2 victory after extra time was not enough for advancement. Galatasaray progresses to the Champions League Round of 16.

Dybala's Return for the Big Match

Paulo Dybala has resumed training and is expected to be ready for the upcoming Serie A match between Roma and Juventus.

McKennie's Future

Reports have emerged about the American's contract extension being close, despite disappointment with European results.

Despite a 3-2 victory after extra time, Juventus Turin failed to advance to the Champions League Round of 16, ending their European campaign at the group stage. The match at Allianz Stadium provided fans with immense excitement but also referee controversies that became the main topic of post-match analysis. The turning point was the incident involving Lloyd Kelly. The home defender was initially shown a yellow card, but after the intervention of the VAR system, referee Tomasz Kwiatkowski decided on a direct sending-off. This decision sparked fury in the Italian camp, with club director Cyril Comolli calling it "frustrating" and incomprehensible. Juventus Turin, founded in 1897, is the most decorated club in Italy, but last triumphed in the Champions League in 1996, losing five finals of the competition since then. Playing with ten men, Luciano Spalletti's charges showed incredible character, coming from behind and forcing extra time. However, the hero for Galatasaray turned out to be Victor Osimhen, whose goal in added time ultimately decided the fate of the advancement. Interestingly, the Nigerian striker did not celebrate the goal out of respect for coach Spalletti, with whom he worked at Napoli, which resonated widely on social media. This defeat marks the eighth consecutive year of international disappointment for Juventus and calls into question the direction of the project being built by Spalletti. The coach did not appear at the post-match press conference, sending club legend Giorgio Chiellini in his place. The Italian-Turkish rivalry in European cups has a long history dating back to the 1960s, often marked not only by sporting emotions but also by tensions in the stands, as confirmed by incidents involving 50 identified ultras in Turin. Parallel to the drama in Turin, the team is preparing for a league clash with Roma. Good news is coming from the Roman camp for coach Gasperini – Paulo Dybala has returned to full training and will likely play against his former team. Debates are already underway within the Juventus squad regarding team reconstruction. Despite the European exit, John Elkann, head of the Exor holding company, assured that he does not intend to sell the club. The priority is to extend Weston McKennie's contract and acquire several new players to restore the Old Lady's shine next season. „Espulsione di Kelly decisione frustrante” (Kelly's sending off was a frustrating decision) — Cyril Comolli „Osimhen spiega perché non ha esultato al gol” (Osimhen explains why he didn't celebrate the goal) — Victor Osimhen

Mentioned People

  • Tomasz Kwiatkowski — Polish video assistant referee, whose decision to change Kelly's punishment caused huge controversy.
  • Victor Osimhen — Scorer of the decisive goal for Galatasaray, who did not celebrate the goal against Juventus.
  • Lloyd Kelly — Juventus defender sent off after VAR system intervention.
  • Giorgio Chiellini — Juventus legend who replaced Spalletti at the post-match press conference.