Juventus suffered a significant 5-2 loss against Galatasaray in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout tie. This defeat marks just the second time Juventus has lost a major European knockout match by a three-goal margin, the previous instance being in the 2017-18 quarter-finals against Real Madrid.
Galatasaray’s Dominance in European Knockouts
Galatasaray has a strong record in European competition when winning the first leg by three goals; they have progressed in all 11 ties in such scenarios, including qualifiers. Historically, teams that lost the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout round by three or more goals have faced a tough road ahead. Out of 49 instances, only four teams have managed to advance: Deportivo La Coruña (2003-04 vs. Milan), Barcelona (2016-17 vs. PSG), Roma (2017-18 vs. Barcelona), and Liverpool (2018-19 vs. Barcelona).
Head-to-Head: Juventus vs. Galatasaray
- Juventus has played Galatasaray seven times in the UEFA Champions League.
- They have achieved just one win, alongside three draws and three losses.
- The only victory was a 2-1 home win in September 2003.
In contrast, Galatasaray has not fared well away against Italian teams, with 13 matches yielding no victories (6 draws, 7 losses). The only away result that led to them being eliminated was a 0-5 loss to AC Milan in March 1963.
Noteworthy Statistics from the Match
The 5-2 defeat for Juventus marks the second occasion in their major European history where they conceded five or more goals, following a 7-0 defeat to Wiener Sport-Club in the 1958-59 UEFA European Cup.
Galatasaray’s Journey Towards the Round of 16
Galatasaray is on the verge of advancing to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Nonetheless, they have faced challenges on the road, losing 46 of their 65 away matches in the competition. This statistic places them with a 71% loss rate, the second highest among teams with over 50 away games, trailing only Olympiakos.
Player Highlights
- Weston McKennie has been active for Juventus, contributing to four goals in his last five UEFA Champions League matches (3 goals, 1 assist).
- Noa Lang made a significant impact in his debut for Galatasaray, scoring twice, matching his total goals from 29 previous appearances in the competition.
- Gabriel Sara stood out by creating seven chances in the first leg, the highest recorded for a Galatasaray player since 2003-04.
He is the second player in Galatasaray history to score and assist in a Champions League knockout match, following Wesley Sneijder in April 2013.
As the competition progresses, Juventus and Galatasaray will both aim to secure their places in the next round under challenging circumstances.
