The return leg of the 2025/26 Champions League play-off tie between Juventus (Italy) and Galatasaray (Turkey) will take place on 25 February at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. The score in the first leg was 5:2 in favour of Galatasaray. Juventus vs Galatasaray: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Juventus
The result of the first leg was clearly not what anyone in Italy was expecting. The home side were thrashed in Turkey 2:5 and now need to win by four goals to reach the round of 16. A three-goal win would take the tie to extra time. Interestingly, it was the first time the Italians have ever conceded five goals in a Champions League match. It is also worth noting that, before the trip to Istanbul, Juventus had gone five straight matches in this European competition without defeat (three wins and two draws).
- The club have failed to win seven of their previous 10 matches in this tournament (four draws and three defeats).
- On home soil, Juventus are unbeaten in five consecutive Champions League matches (three wins and two draws).
- No more than two goals were scored in six of the Turin outfit’s last eight home matches in this European competition.
Potential Juventus Lineup (4-3-3)
Michele Di Gregorio – Federico Gatti, Bremer, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu – Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners – Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie, Francisco Conceicao.
Forwards Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik, as well as defender Emil Holm, are out injured. Defenders Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal will miss the match through suspension.
Galatasaray
The Turks fully deserved their home win. The team held a huge advantage over their opponents throughout the match. The Istanbul side outperformed the Italians on xG (2.92:1.12), possession (62:38), total shots (22:7) and shots on target (9:3). Incidentally, it was the biggest win in the club’s history in the knockout stages of this tournament. Now, in the return leg, Galatasaray would be happy not only with a draw, but even with a defeat by one or two goals. If they manage to get past Juventus, the Turks will reach the Champions League round of 16 for the fourth time in their history. It is also interesting that, prior to their triumph in Istanbul, the team had gone four consecutive Champions League matches without a win (one draw and three defeats).
- The club have failed to win 11 of their previous 15 matches in this European competition (two draws and nine defeats).
- Galatasaray have lost six of their last seven away matches in the Champions League.
- At least three goals were scored in 11 of the Istanbul outfit’s previous 14 away matches in this tournament.
Potential Galatasaray Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Ugurcan Cakir – Roland Sallai, Davinson Sanchez, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Jakobs – Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Sara – Yunus Akgun, Noa Lang, Baris Yilmaz – Victor Osimhen.
Defender Arda Unyay is out injured.
Referee
Joao Pedro Pinheiro (Portugal)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 33;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.7;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 0%.
Juventus vs Galatasaray: Match Prediction
It is unlikely that the Turin side will be able to pull off a comeback in this tie. The Turkish team’s advantage in the first leg was simply too convincing. The only thing the Italians can really count on is that the Istanbul outfit are a very home-oriented team, and they look openly weaker away from home in the Champions League. It is also worth noting that the first-leg defeat was extremely painful for Juventus, and the club then lost again on Saturday in the Serie A, at their own stadium, going down 0:2 to Como.
Most likely, the Italians will concede again this time. Galatasaray have plenty of attacking potential, and the team have scored in 20 of their previous 25 Champions League matches. However, the Italian club should not be left without goals either, as they have no option but to attack from the opening minutes and try to score early. Juventus have scored at least twice in four of their last five home matches in the Champions League. They should be capable of finding a couple of goals in this one too, especially as the Istanbul side have conceded in 12 of their previous 14 away matches in this European competition, including 10 occasions when they shipped two or more.
Prediction: Over 3 goals
