Tourism giant Galatasaray Istanbul sensationally defeated Juventus Turin 5-2 in the first playoff match for advancement to the Champions League round of 16. Although the Turin side led at halftime after two goals from Teun Koopmeiners, their play completely collapsed in the second half. The red card for Juan Cabal became the turning point, after which the hosts scored as many as four goals, putting the Italian team in an extremely difficult situation ahead of the return leg.
Juventus's Catastrophic Second Half
The Italian team conceded 4 goals after halftime, finishing the match with ten men after the red card for Juan Cabal.
Galatasaray's Market Success
The victory over the decorated rival caused a rise in the share price of the Turkish club by 4.8% on the Istanbul stock exchange.
Racist Scandal After the Match
Defender Lloyd Kelly received numerous racially motivated slurs, leading to intervention by Juventus lawyers.
The match on the hot ground in Istanbul began as expected for the hosts when Gabriel Sara beat the visiting goalkeeper with a precise long-range shot. However, Juventus managed to respond quickly, and Teun Koopmeiners scored twice, giving his team the lead at halftime. It seemed that Luciano Spalletti's charges were in control, but the second half proved disastrous in its consequences. The rivalry between Italian and Turkish clubs has a rich history dating back to the 1960s, with stadiums in Istanbul long enjoying a reputation as
Mentioned People
- Luciano Spalletti — Juventus coach, who criticized his players' lack of character after the defeat in Istanbul.
- Teun Koopmeiners — Dutch midfielder for Juventus, scorer of two goals in the first half of the match.
- Noa Lang — Galatasaray player and former Napoli player, scorer of two decisive goals for the win.
- Lloyd Kelly — Juventus defender, who fell victim to racist attacks on social media.