Five disappointing Juventus stars of 5-2 Galatasaray defeat – Football Italia

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Juventus players pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Juventus’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 were dealt an enormous blow after a 5-2 defeat away against Galatasaray in the play-off round first leg on Tuesday evening. Here are the Bianconeri players who failed to live up to expectations on the night. 

Juventus took a 2-1 advantage into the break thanks to a brace from Teun Koopmeiners, but the hosts hit back with goals from Noa Lang (x2), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey in a second half that saw half-time substitute Juan Cabal sent off in the 67th minute. 

This means that Juventus will need to win by a three goal margin at an absolute minimum at the Allianz Stadium in the return leg next week if they are to keep their Champions League campaign alive. 

Which Juventus players disappointed the most against Galatasaray? 

Naturally, Juan Cabal has earned his fair share of criticism for earning two bookings within the space of 22 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute. 

The Colombian was brought on in an attempt to stop Galatasaray’s Baris Yilmaz, but just four minutes after his introduction, he was caught out of position, which led to Yilmaz providing the assist for Galatasaray’s equaliser at 2-2. 

Then, 10 minutes later, he earned his first booking of the game, giving Galatasaray a free-kick that led to Davinson Sanchez’s goal for 3-2. A further eight minutes down the line and he was sent off for his second bookable offence. A nightmare evening for the Bianconeri full-back. 

Lloyd Kelly was also involved in two of the Galatasaray goals on Tuesday night. He was the one marking Davinson Sanchez, who scored from a free-kick delivery for 3-2 a quarter of an hour into the second half. 

The Englishman was also caught sleeping by Victor Osimhen in the 74th minute, giving away possession on the edge of his own six-yard box, which directly resulted in Noa Lang’s second goal of the game for 4-2. 

Much was expected of Turkiye national team star Kenan Yildiz, who failed to live up to expectations back on his home soil. In fact, it was him who lost possession on the edge of his own box that led to Sara’s opening goal of the game a quarter of an hour in. 

Khephren Thuram was also not at his best in Istanbul. The Frenchman had missed the Derby d’Italia against Inter over the weekend due to injury, and it looked at times as if he was still struggling with that issue. 

He lost possession 13 times, misplaced 10 passes and only won one of his five challenges on the night. He also gave the dangerous backpass to Kelly, which led to Lang’s second goal of the game. 

Tuesday night was another game that goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio failed to impress. While there were a handful of saves from the Italian on the night, the former Monza man looked short of confidence and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that he should have done better for the Galatasaray goals at 3-2 and 5-2.