Juventus Face Uphill Battle Against Galatasaray in Champions League Playoff
Juventus will host Galatasaray this Wednesday evening at the Juventus Stadium in the second leg of the Champions League playoff round, desperately needing a significant victory after a disappointing 5-2 defeat in the first leg played in Istanbul. The pressure is mounting on “The Old Lady” as they must win by at least three goals to even force extra time, a daunting task against a confident Galatasaray side.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM GMT on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Juventus will be playing on home turf, hoping to leverage the support of their fans to overcome the substantial deficit.
For viewers hoping to catch the game, a variety of channels will be broadcasting the match. These include Arena Sport 2 Croatia HD, beIN Connect MENA HD, beIN Sports MENA 3 HD, DAZN 1 Bar German HD, DAZN German, Discovery+ UK, Disney+ UK, Paramount+ USA, Play Sports 3 Belgium, Sport TV Azerbaijan, TNT Sports 3 HD, TNT Sports 5 HD, Tring Sport 2 HD, TRT 1 Türkiye HD, TV3 MAX Danish HD, ViaPlay Denmark HD, ViaPlay Sweden HD, Virgin Media PLAY, Virgin Media TV, and Virgin Media Two HD.
Both teams have announced their probable starting lineups. Juventus is expected to field a team comprised of Di Gregorio in goal, with a defense of Kalulu, Gatti, and Kelly. The midfield will feature McKennie, Thuram, Locatelli, and Kostic, supporting a forward line of Conceicao, David, and Miretti.
Galatasaray will reportedly line up with Cakir in goal, a defensive line of Sallai, Sanchez, Bardacki, and Jakobs. Torreira and Sara will anchor the midfield, providing support to the attacking trio of Yilmaz, Akgün, and Lang, with Osimhen leading the line.
The first leg result has placed Juventus in a precarious position. According to data cited in a preview by Sports Mole, historically, only four teams out of 49 have managed to overturn a first-leg deficit of three or more goals in the Champions League. This statistic underscores the magnitude of the challenge facing Juventus.
Juventus’ recent form has been inconsistent. They suffered a 5-2 loss to Galatasaray last week and a 2-0 defeat to Como in Serie A on Saturday, ending their long unbeaten home record in the league. Their current position in Serie A, with 46 points, is their lowest at this stage of the season since 2011, adding to the pressure on the team.
Galatasaray, appear to be in a strong position, having secured a significant advantage in the first leg. The team’s lineup includes key players such as Victor Osimhen, who will be looking to exploit any vulnerabilities in the Juventus defense. The first leg saw Napoli loanee Noa Lang score two goals, demonstrating Galatasaray’s attacking prowess.
The upcoming match against Galatasaray is crucial for Juventus, not only in terms of Champions League qualification but also as a potential turning point for their season. A failure to progress in the Champions League could further exacerbate the pressure on the team and management, while a victory, however improbable, could provide a much-needed boost in morale, and confidence.
