Dutch midfielder Noa Lang delivered a standout performance with two goals as Galatasaray overwhelmed Juventus 5-2 in an electrifying first-leg encounter of their Champions League playoff in Istanbul on Tuesday night.
Amid a charged and intense atmosphere inside the stadium, Juventus, under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, went into the break with a narrow 2-1 advantage.
Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners responded to Brazilian playmaker Gabriel Sara’s early opener by scoring twice to give the Italian side hope of taking control of the tie.
However, the second half told a completely different story. Colombian defender Juan Cabal received his marching orders after picking up a second booking in a chaotic period for the visitors. That dismissal shifted the momentum firmly in favour of the Turkish champions.
Lang struck twice, while Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey also found the net, condemning the Old Lady to a heavy defeat ahead of the return leg in Turin.
“We took several steps backwards,” moaned Spalletti, whose team had been rejuvenated since he took over in late October, with Juve seventh in Serie A and languishing outside the play-off spots in the Champions League after failing to win any of their first three matches.
“We finished the first half badly; we tried to sort things out, but we lacked personality and character,” added the 66-year-old.
“Obviously, the sending off weighed heavily on us, but we also played our part… We didn’t realise the danger in what we were doing.”
The defeat ranks as Juventus’ joint-second worst loss in European competition, equalling their heaviest setbacks aside from the infamous 7-0 defeat to Wiener Sport-Club in 1958, a club that now competes in Austria’s lower regional divisions.
Galatasaray drew first blood in the 15th minute when Sara unleashed a precise left-footed effort from the edge of the area to beat the goalkeeper. Yet the advantage was short-lived. Gala’s shot-stopper Ugurcan Cakir could only push Khephren Thuram’s forceful header into the path of Koopmeiners, who calmly slotted home the equaliser just moments later.
Koopmeiners struck again in the 32nd minute, curling a superb effort into the top corner after a neat exchange with American midfielder Weston McKennie. At that point, Juventus appeared to be in control.
But the visitors’ composure unraveled after the interval. Galatasaray, managed by Okan Buruk, returned from the dressing room with renewed intensity. Lang capitalised on a loose ball inside the six-yard area in the 49th minute to restore parity.
Sanchez then rose highest to head the hosts into the lead on the hour mark, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters. Juventus had voiced frustration over what they considered a harsh red card in their recent 3-2 league loss to Inter Milan, but there were no grounds for complaint regarding Cabal’s dismissal in this contest after his second caution on 67 minutes.
Lang soon doubled his tally, reacting quickest after Victor Osimhen dispossessed English defender Lloyd Kelly following a misplaced pass from Thuram deep inside Juventus’ territory. The Dutchman’s clinical finish effectively sealed the tie.
Substitute Boey added further gloss to the scoreline with five minutes remaining, driving home from a tight angle to ensure Galatasaray would head to Turin with a commanding advantage for the decisive second leg.
What you should know
Galatasaray secured a dominant 5-2 victory over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League playoff in Istanbul.
Despite Juventus leading 2-1 at half-time through Teun Koopmeiners’ brace, the match turned dramatically after Juan Cabal’s red card in the second half. Noa Lang scored twice, while Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey also contributed to the emphatic win.
The result leaves Juventus facing a daunting task in Turin as they attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit to keep their European hopes alive.
