Galatasaray managed to reach the last 16 of the Champions League despite squandering a three-goal aggregate lead against 10-man Juventus on Wednesday, with two extra-time goals limiting the Turkish side to a 3-2 defeat.
Victor Osimhen and Baris Yilmaz scored the extra-time goals that allowed Galatasaray to earn a thrilling 7-5 aggregate draw and set up a clash with either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.
Galatasaray’s previous appearance in the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition was in 2014 and they were lucky to get through on Wednesday, even though Juve had to play most of the night with 10 men.
Round of 16, here we come.#JUVEGS #UCL pic.twitter.com/i9yhv00NYI
— Galatasaray ES (@Galatasaray) February 25, 2026
Juve were leading on the night thanks to Manuel Locatelli’s 37th-minute penalty when Lloyd Kelly received a straight red card shortly after the break for landing a jump with his studs on Yilmaz’s Achilles.
Kelly could hardly believe his eyes when he was initially handed a second yellow card.
But he was furious after a check on the pitchside monitor led referee Joao Pinheiro to overturn that decision only to show him a straight red card for serious foul play.
The England defender was filmed loudly proclaiming the decision as “a disgrace” while Juve manager Luciano Spalletti looked on dumbfounded from the sidelines.
That decision seemed to have ended Juve’s chances of a comeback, but Federico Gatti scored another goal with 20 minutes remaining and 12 minutes later, after Kenan Yildiz hit the post from close range, Weston McKennie headed in the equalizer for the hosts.
Edon Zhegrova had her head in her hands in the sixth minute of extra time when she squandered a glorious chance to complete the comeback, and Osimhen punished Juve with their best chance of the match.
The best of the Super Eagles 🤩🇳🇬
Victor Osimhen pulls away to give Galatasaray a crucial lead 💫
📺 Stream #UCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/sq3p39CoF0
— SuperSport Soccer ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 25, 2026
Yilmaz ended Juve’s hopes of taking the tie to penalties with a goal that flattered Galatasaray, who spent a lot of money last summer, including €75 million to sign Osimhen from Juve’s Serie A rival Napoli.
Gala vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu has been optimistic in recent days and has stated that the club will sign Inter Milan midfielder and Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu.
But their performance on Wednesday was marked more by cynicism than quality, with Gala’s players doing their best to waste time and buy fouls in the style of the Italian teams of yesteryear.