DUTCH MIDFIELDER NOA Lang scored a brace as Galatasaray thumped Juventus 5-2 in a pulsating contest in Istanbul on Tuesday in the first leg of a Champions League playoff.
In a nerve-shredding atmosphere, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus actually led 2-1 at half-time after Teun Koopmeiners replied to Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara’s opener with a brace of his own.
But Colombian full-back Juan Cabal was dismissed for two bookings in a calamitous second half as Lang’s brace and goals from Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey sunk the Old Lady, who faced a miserable return to Turin.
Sara opened the scoring with a slick left-footed strike from just inside the box on 15 minutes, but that lead was short-lived.
Gala goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir could only parry Khephren Thuram’s powerful header into the path of the onrushing Koopmeiners, who tapped in the leveller just a minute later.
Koopmeiners then picked out the top corner from the edge of the box on 32 minutes after a clever exchange with US midfielder Weston McKennie.
Advertisement
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though.
Okan Buruk’s Turkish champions ran riot after the break as Lang pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box to level on 49 minutes.
Sanchez nodded Gala ahead on the hour mark as the home fans ramped up the volume.
Juve complained of an unfair dismissal in their 3-2 defeat to Serie A leaders Inter Milan at the weekend, but they could have no issues with Cabal’s sending off on 67 minutes.
Lang bagged his brace shortly afterwards and substitute Boey ensured Gala will take a commanding lead to Turin next week as he lashed home from an angle five minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie on Tuesday.
United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after just 55 seconds and found the net again on 18 minutes to put Monaco in control against their French Ligue 1 rivals at the Stade Louis II.
Vitinha then missed a chance for the reigning European champions to reduce the deficit when he had a penalty saved and last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele came off injured before the half-hour mark, but his replacement Doue sparked the comeback.
He pulled one back and then helped set up Achraf Hakimi for the equaliser just before the break, and Monaco then had Aleksandr Golovin sent off right at the start of the second half. Doue then scored the winner on 67 minutes.
It was a remarkable game and the result keeps the tie alive going into the return leg in Paris next Wednesday, but Luis Enrique’s PSG side are now strong favourites to seal a place in the last 16 in front of their own fans.
In Germany, Serhou Guirassy scored a goal and laid on another as Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 at home on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie.
Despite a late arrival delaying kick-off and just one recognised centre-back, Dortmund controlled the match from start to finish.
The in-form Guirassy headed Dortmund in front early and then set up Maximilian Beier’s goal late in the first half to give the Germans the advantage ahead of next week’s return leg in Italy.
Atalanta were out on their feet in defence and disjointed in attack, missing injured midfielder Charles De Ketelaere’s attacking spark.
The winners of the tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16, the teams who finished first and second respectively in the league phase.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Advantage Galatasaray after Juve collapse, PSG complete stunning comeback win over Monaco
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago
Champions League KO playoff first leg results
********
DUTCH MIDFIELDER NOA Lang scored a brace as Galatasaray thumped Juventus 5-2 in a pulsating contest in Istanbul on Tuesday in the first leg of a Champions League playoff.
In a nerve-shredding atmosphere, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus actually led 2-1 at half-time after Teun Koopmeiners replied to Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara’s opener with a brace of his own.
But Colombian full-back Juan Cabal was dismissed for two bookings in a calamitous second half as Lang’s brace and goals from Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey sunk the Old Lady, who faced a miserable return to Turin.
Sara opened the scoring with a slick left-footed strike from just inside the box on 15 minutes, but that lead was short-lived.
Gala goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir could only parry Khephren Thuram’s powerful header into the path of the onrushing Koopmeiners, who tapped in the leveller just a minute later.
Koopmeiners then picked out the top corner from the edge of the box on 32 minutes after a clever exchange with US midfielder Weston McKennie.
That was as good as it got for the visitors, though.
Okan Buruk’s Turkish champions ran riot after the break as Lang pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box to level on 49 minutes.
Sanchez nodded Gala ahead on the hour mark as the home fans ramped up the volume.
Juve complained of an unfair dismissal in their 3-2 defeat to Serie A leaders Inter Milan at the weekend, but they could have no issues with Cabal’s sending off on 67 minutes.
Lang bagged his brace shortly afterwards and substitute Boey ensured Gala will take a commanding lead to Turin next week as he lashed home from an angle five minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie on Tuesday.
United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after just 55 seconds and found the net again on 18 minutes to put Monaco in control against their French Ligue 1 rivals at the Stade Louis II.
Vitinha then missed a chance for the reigning European champions to reduce the deficit when he had a penalty saved and last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele came off injured before the half-hour mark, but his replacement Doue sparked the comeback.
He pulled one back and then helped set up Achraf Hakimi for the equaliser just before the break, and Monaco then had Aleksandr Golovin sent off right at the start of the second half. Doue then scored the winner on 67 minutes.
It was a remarkable game and the result keeps the tie alive going into the return leg in Paris next Wednesday, but Luis Enrique’s PSG side are now strong favourites to seal a place in the last 16 in front of their own fans.
In Germany, Serhou Guirassy scored a goal and laid on another as Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 at home on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie.
Despite a late arrival delaying kick-off and just one recognised centre-back, Dortmund controlled the match from start to finish.
The in-form Guirassy headed Dortmund in front early and then set up Maximilian Beier’s goal late in the first half to give the Germans the advantage ahead of next week’s return leg in Italy.
Atalanta were out on their feet in defence and disjointed in attack, missing injured midfielder Charles De Ketelaere’s attacking spark.
The winners of the tie will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16, the teams who finished first and second respectively in the league phase.
– © AFP 2026
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Champions League gala night Galatasaray Juventus