Juventus vs. Galatasaray: Can the Italian giants stage a comeback and stop Serie A's Champions League woes
CBS Sports
by
Chuck Booth
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Juventus faces a daunting challenge as they prepare to host Galatasaray in the second leg of their Champions League encounter, trailing 5-2 from the first match. With suspended players Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal unavailable, and center back Gleison Bremer potentially sidelined due to injury, Juventus must overcome significant obstacles to stage a comeback. Historically, teams trailing by three goals or more in the Champions League knockout stage have only managed to advance four times since 2003, making this an uphill battle for the Italian giants.
Galatasaray, while not known for their defensive prowess (they’ve conceded 13 goals in nine UCL games), has managed to score enough to maintain a commanding lead. Juventus, on the other hand, have struggled defensively under manager Luciano Spalletti, despite their ability to score goals. Even if Juventus were to win by three goals, it would only force extra time, highlighting just how difficult this task is.
The match carries added significance as Juventus could become the last remaining Italian team in the Champions League following Inter Milan’s exit earlier this week. The stakes are high for both teams, with the winner potentially facing either Tottenham or Liverpool in the next round. For now, though, all eyes will be on whether Juventus can pull off an unlikely comeback, defying the odds and continuing their Champions League journey.
With the match set to air on CBS
Verticals
sports
Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/25/2026