Victor Osimhen played a decisive creative role, setting up two goals as Galatasaray produced a stunning performance to defeat Juventus 5–2 in Istanbul on Tuesday night. The emphatic victory hands the Turkish champions a commanding advantage ahead of the second leg in Turin and fuels hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 for the first time in 13 years.
Although the Nigerian striker did not find the back of the net, his influence was evident throughout the contest. Osimhen delivered a lively display against a Juventus side that had previously shown strong interest in signing him before his move to Galatasaray. Adding another layer of intrigue, he faced familiar opposition on the touchline in Luciano Spalletti, the coach under whom he rose to global prominence during their Serie A title-winning campaign in the 2022/23 season.
Galatasaray initially struggled despite taking an early lead. Gabriel Sara opened the scoring for the hosts, but Juventus responded impressively, turning the game around within a frantic 17-minute spell before halftime. Teun Koopmeiners struck twice to give the Italian side a 2–1 advantage heading into the break.
The momentum shifted dramatically after halftime as Galatasaray returned with renewed intensity. The home side mounted a spirited comeback, drawing level before surging ahead by the hour mark thanks to goals from Noa Lang and Davinson Sánchez, sending the Istanbul crowd into celebration.
Juventus’ situation worsened when substitute Juan Cabal was sent off just 21 minutes after coming on, receiving a second yellow card that left the visitors both trailing and reduced to ten men. Galatasaray quickly capitalized on the numerical advantage, maintaining relentless pressure on a struggling defense.
Lang grabbed his second goal of the evening after exploiting defensive lapses, while Osimhen’s tireless work created the opportunity for Sacha Boey to add a late fifth goal, effectively putting the tie firmly in Galatasaray’s control.
With a three-goal cushion secured, Okan Buruk’s men now head into the return leg full of confidence. The decisive second encounter is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25 in Turin, where Galatasaray will aim to complete the job and seal a memorable passage into the knockout stages.
