Koopmeiners delude, then collapse (in ten) in the second half: Juve sinks at home to Galatasaray

Juventus returns from Rams Park in Istanbul with a 4-2 defeat against Galatasaray in the first leg of the playoffs for access to the Champions League round of 16. The one that matured in the Turkish capital is a result that makes qualification in no small measure complex for the Bianconeri, who are forced to win in the return match at the Stadium, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, by three goals to go to extra time, four to go directly through to the round. A negative second half, characterized not only by the four goals conceded but also by numerical inferiority, weighed heavily.

The match was immediately alive and it was Galatasaray that unlocked it, scoring on 15′ with Gabriel Sara at the conclusion of a very quick counterattack. Not even a minute goes by, however, and Juve equalizes: Cakir rebounds on Kalulu’s header, Koopmeiners finds the ball between his feet and makes no mistake. On the wings of enthusiasm, the Bianconeri also found the 2-1 on 32′, again with Koopmeiners: the former Atalanta man exchanges with McKennie and with a powerful left-handed conclusion leaves no way out for the opposing goalkeeper.

Francesco Lucivero

Two minutes later another turn of events, this time negative for Juventus: Bremer is hurt and is forced to leave, in his place is Gatti. Nervous end of the half (Spalletti on the bench is also cautioned), at halftime it still goes 2-1 to the Old Lady. The resumption starts with Cabal in place of Cambiaso but the choice does not pay off and four minutes after the kickoff comes the 2-2: Lang, who arrived in Turkey from Naples in January, collects Di Gregorio’s short rebound on Yilmaz’s shot and puts his own signature on the equalizer.

The Old Lady’s goal is the result of a penalty.

Juventus lost its compass and at 60′ Galatasaray went ahead again: a free kick from a deflected position by Gabriel Sara, Kelly was anticipated by Davinson Sanchez whose spike mocked Di Gregorio. Bianconeri on the ropes, at 67′ another blow: Cabal, cautioned at 59′, commits a second offense deserving of yellow for referee Makkelie and leaves his teammates in ten.

The team coached by Okan Buruk (a former Inter player) is cynical and ruthless and on 75′ scores again, with Noa Lang who scores his personal double by taking advantage of a defensive blunder by Kelly: Osimhen anticipates him on Thuram&#8217s back pass and serves the Dutchman, who seals the 4-2. An increasingly struggling Juve finally derailed at’86’: this time it was Boey who scored, for the Bianconeri it was nightfall. It ends 5-2.

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