The round of 16 qualifying for the UEFA Champions League has been fully completed, and the final qualifying match has become a real drama. In the decisive second leg in Turin, Juventus showed great resilience on the pitch, but ultimately, in extra time, Galatasaray delivered the decisive blow, becoming the last participant in the quarter-finals. Although the match ended 3-2 in favor of Juventus, after two games, the Turkish club advanced to the next stage with a score of 7-5.
The most interesting aspect of the match was that Juventus didn't back down from the fight even after losing one player at the beginning of the second half. Despite being on a deficit, the Turin side made a large comeback in stoppage time, nullifying the 2-5 victory in the first leg. Fans witnessed an almost unbelievable scene at Alliance Stadium - the team, consisting of ten players, kept the opponent under intense pressure.
In the match, Juventus' goals were scored by Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti, and Weston McKennie, bringing the team very close to salvation. Especially when the Turin side secured the necessary lead in stoppage time, hope was rekindled in the stadium. Galatasaray struggled defensively but patiently waited for their opportunity to capitalize on the game.
The extra section turned the entire script upside down. It was at this moment that Viktor Osimhen and Barış Alper Yilmaz scored golden goals for the Turkish team. These shots not only extinguished Juventus's hope of returning but also led Galatasaray to the next stage thanks to great willpower, composure, and accurate calculations.
UCL. Round of 16
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Juventus - Galatasaray 3:2
February 25, "Alliance Stadium"
Goals: Locatelli (37, penalty), Gatti (70), McKennie (82) - Osimhen (105+1), Yilmaz (119).
Juventus - Perin, Kalulu (Openda, 109'), Kelly, Gatti, McKennie, Locatelli (Kostić, 109'), Thuram (Adiec, 77'), Kopmeiners, Conceição (Jegrova, 67'), Yildiz (Miretti, 103'), David (Boga, 67').
Galatasaray: Chaqir, Shallai (Buy, 59), Sanchez, Bardakchi, Jacobs (Elmali, 87), Torreira (Singo, 103), Lemina (Ikardi, 87), Lang (Sane, 59), Sara (Gundogan, 71), Yilmaz, Osimhen.
Yellow cards: Osimhen (14), Kelly (25), Yildiz (31), Shallai (33), Sara (60), Chaqir (111).
Red card: Kelly (48).
First match - 2:5.
Thus, the evening in Turin combined two different feelings in one scene: on one side, the courage of Juventus, who fought until the end despite being defeated, and on the other, the characteristic play of Galatasaray, who managed to strike at the most difficult moment. This match once again showed why the Champions League attracts millions of fans - everything here isn't decided until the last minute.
Most importantly, the Turkish club didn't just maintain a significant advantage in the first leg. He didn't break under pressure, withstood the opponent's comeback, and scored decisive goals when needed. As a result, Galatasaray became the last team to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, while Juventus, despite leaving the field with a victory, were forced to part ways with the European stage.
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