The return leg of the 2025/26 Champions League play-off tie between Juventus Football Club (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 Football Club vs Galatasaray: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Juventus Football Club
The result of the first meeting was clearly not what was expected in Italy. The hosts were thrashed in Turkey 2:5 and now have to win by a four-goal margin to reach the round of 16 of this competition. If they manage to win by three, extra time will be played. Interestingly, the Italians have conceded five goals in a Champions League match for the first time in their history. It is also worth noting that ahead of the game in Istanbul, the club had gone five straight matches in this European competition without defeat (three wins and two draws).
- The club have not won seven of their previous 10 matches in this competition (four draws and three defeats).
- At home, Juventus Football Club 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 side’s last eight home matches in this European competition.
Potential Juventus Football Club Lineup (4-3-3)*
Michele Di Gregorio – Andrea Cambiaso, Bremer, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu – Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners – Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie, Francisco Conceicao.
Due to injuries, forwards Jonathan David, Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik are unavailable. Because of suspension, defenders Andrea Cambiaso and Juan Cabal will miss the match.
Galatasaray
The Turks deservedly won the home match. The team had a huge advantage over their opponent throughout the game. 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). That win, incidentally, was the biggest in the club’s history in the play-offs of this competition. In the return leg, Galatasaray would be satisfied not only with a draw, but even with a defeat by one or two goals. If they manage to get past Juventus Football Club, the Turks will reach the Champions League round of 16 for the fourth time in their history. Interestingly, prior to the triumph in Istanbul, the team had gone four straight Champions League matches without a win (one draw and three defeats).
- The club have not won 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 side’s previous 14 away matches in this competition.
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.
Referee
Joao Pedro Pinheiro (Portugal)
Matches – 9 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 33;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.7;
Red cards shown – 1;
Fouls per match on average – 21;
Penalties – 0%.
Juventus Football Club vs Galatasaray: Match Prediction
It is unlikely that the hosts will be able to complete a comeback in this tie. The Turks’ advantage in the first leg was simply too emphatic. The only thing the Italians can really count on is that the Istanbul side are very much a home team, while away from home in the Champions League they have looked noticeably weaker. It is also worth noting that the defeat in the first leg proved very painful for Juventus Football Club, and on Saturday they lost again in the Serie A, and at their own stadium too – a 0:2 defeat 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, because they have no choice but to push forward from the first minutes and try to score early. Juventus Football Club have scored at least twice in four of their last five home Champions League matches. They should be capable of notching a couple again in this game, given that the Istanbul side have conceded in 12 of their previous 14 away matches in this European competition, including 10 times conceding two or more goals.
Prediction: Over 3 goals
* For each team, the starting line-up from their last match in this competition is listed.
