TURIN, ITALY — Juventus survived one of the most breathless finales in recent Champions League memory to claim a 3-2 victory over Galatasaray at the Allianz Stadium, a match that swung wildly through 120 extraordinary minutes. The Bianconeri looked to have wrapped up a comfortable win before Galatasaray clawed back from 3-0 down to level in extra time, only for Baris Alper Yilmaz's 119th-minute strike to hand the Turkish side a consolation that ultimately came too late to deny Juventus the points.
Manuel Locatelli set the tone early, stepping up to convert a 37th-minute penalty with a composed right-footed finish to the bottom right corner, giving Juventus a deserved lead at the break. The hosts had been the more threatening side throughout the first half, and Locatelli's clinical spot-kick reward reflected their dominance in the attacking third.
The second half brought more of the same. Federico Gatti doubled the advantage in the 70th minute, poking home from very close range following a corner, his right-footed effort finding the bottom left corner to send the Allianz Stadium into raptures. Twelve minutes later, Weston McKennie made it three, meeting Teun Koopmeiners' deft headed pass from a set piece to nod home from close range — a goal that appeared to have killed the contest stone dead.
Yet Galatasaray, to their immense credit, refused to fold. Victor Osimhen had been a constant menace throughout the second half, testing Mattia Perin on three separate occasions between the 67th and 68th minutes alone — a right-footed effort from the right side of the box, a header from the centre, and another drive from outside the area, all thwarted by the Juventus goalkeeper. Perin's heroics in those moments proved crucial, as Galatasaray's pressure eventually told in extra time.
Osimhen finally beat Perin in the 105th minute, latching onto a clever ball from Baris Alper Yilmaz and driving home from the left side of the box to make it 3-1. The comeback was on. Lucas Torreira had already tested Perin with a long-range effort in the 99th minute — saved comfortably in the centre of the goal — but Galatasaray's belief was growing. Ugurcan Çakir, meanwhile, had been equally busy at the other end, producing a fine stop to deny Edon Zhegrova in the 110th minute, the Juventus winger's angled left-footed drive tipped onto the bar.
Then, with the clock reading 119 minutes, Wilfried Singo threaded a through ball into the path of Baris Alper Yilmaz, who drilled home to the centre of the goal and set up a frantic final minute. It was not enough. The whistle blew moments later, and Juventus held on.
The statistics told the story of Juventus's overall dominance: the hosts launched 28 shots to Galatasaray's 16, and while possession was shared almost equally at 47.3% to 52.7%, it was the Bianconeri who created the clearer opportunities. Both goalkeepers made 6 saves apiece in a match that demanded the best from each. The referee was kept thoroughly busy, brandishing 8 cards across the 120 minutes — 3 yellow for Juventus and 4 for Galatasaray, plus a red card that left Juventus reduced to nine men in the closing stages, adding further chaos to an already feverish atmosphere. Juventus also won 9 corners to Galatasaray's 4, reflecting their sustained pressure throughout.
The result moves Juventus to 13th in the Champions League standings on 13 points, keeping their hopes of a top-eight finish — and automatic passage to the Round of 16 — very much alive. Galatasaray, stranded in 20th on 10 points, face a mounting challenge to reach the knockout playoff places.
Juventus will look to build on this when AS Roma visit on March 1, while Galatasaray travel to face Alanyaspor the same day, needing a response after letting a three-goal deficit slip before ultimately falling short.