UCL | Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus: Cabal catastrophe ruins Champions League play-off

Juventus were leading 2-1 with a Teun Koopmeiners brace, but a disastrous performance from Juan Cabal with red card and Noa Lang double create a Champions League play-off mountain to climb.

The Bianconeri made the trip to Istanbul without Jonathan David, Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik, but Khephren Thuram returned after missing the controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter. Weston McKennie was turned into a surprise False 9, flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao. The hosts had Mario Lemina suspended, but could count on former Serie A stars Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, Noa Lang and Lucas Torreira. The second leg in Turin is on February 25.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

A Yunus Akgun scorcher flashed just wide, as did the deflected Kenan Yildiz effort at the other end, but Kenan Yildiz was caught napping on a throw-in, so Lucas Torreira laid it off for Gabriel Sara to bend the left-foot finish into the far bottom corner.

Gabriel Sara FIRES Galatasaray ahead @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/bHZKDXTwjM

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

However, the Galatasaray celebrations were still in full swing when Juventus equalised less than a minute later. Andrea Cambiaso surged forward from the kick-off and floated a cross for Pierre Kalulu’s header, which was only parried into the path of Teun Koopmeiners to turn in the rebound.

Koopmeiners responds immediately and Juventus are level@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/PbUwwBUCsR

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

Cambiaso was booked and will be suspended for the second leg, while Osimhen’s half-volley flashed over the bar and his header was well saved by Michele Di Gregorio.

Both Gleison Bremer and Kenan Yildiz were carrying knocks, but Juve managed to turn the game around to lead with another from Koopmeiners. The Dutchman burst through the centre, completed a give and go with McKennie, and blasted into the roof of the net with his left foot.

Koopmeiners puts Juventus in front with a brilliant strike @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/oyvbz6AKcd

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

After several minutes of trying to continue, Bremer was forced off with a thigh issue, replaced by Federico Gatti.

Francisco Conceicao curled off target from a counter-attack and Di Gregorio got down to palm away the Yunus Akgun daisy-cutter.

Former Palermo man Roland Sallai should’ve equalised on the stroke of half-time, but ballooned over at the back post after surprising Cambiaso on a Lang corner.

They did make it 2-2 straight after the restart, as Di Gregorio got a glove to the Baris Alper Yilmaz angled drive, but could do nothing on Lang’s tap-in for his first goal since the January move from Napoli. Substitute Juan Cabal had tried to double up marking elsewhere, leaving Yilmaz alone.

Noa Lang brings Galatasaray right back into it @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/LEdmFZ5OQn

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

Galatasaray turned it around once more, Gabriel Sara’s ferocious free kick taking a mere glance off Davinson Sanchez to wrong-foot Di Gregorio from close range.

REMARKABLE TURNAROUND BY GALATASARAY @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/V9Qhm0MfpT

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

Cabal had given that free kick away with a foul on Baris Alper Yilmaz for a yellow card, and received his second for another failed attempt to stop the Galatasaray captain, reducing Juventus to 10 men after a nightmare performance off the bench.

Juan Cabal sent off after coming on at half-time! @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/EFFzs9QlpC

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

Things went from bad to worse, as Thuram and Lloyd Kelly were too sluggish playing out from the back, allowing Osimhen to steal it inside the box and find Lang for another tap-in.

Noa Lang gets his second of the night! @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/oXcAsUUJqn

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 17, 2026

Ex-Torino winger Wilfried Singo drilled just wide from distance, but the fifth arrived when Osimhen battled with Lloyd Kelly to send substitute Sacha Boey down the right, blasting into the far top corner with a powerful finish.

Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus

Gabriel Sara 15 (G), Koopmeiners 16, 32 (J), Lang 49, 75 (G), Sanchez 60 (G), Boey 86 (G)

Sent off: Cabal 67 (J)