Victor Osimhen’s Extra-Time Heroics Inspire Galatasaray Into Champions League Last Sixteen

Galatasaray SK, on another historic European night in their illustrious history, progressed into the last sixteen of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade after defeating Italian giants Juventus in Turin.

Two late extra-time goals from Victor Osimhen and Barış Yılmaz denied Juve and extended the Italian side’s winless run against the Turkish giants to eight previous meetings. It completed a remarkable comeback from a three-goal deficit across 90 minutes, achieved despite being reduced to ten men, and delivered Galatasaray’s first victory on Italian soil in over thirteen encounters since the birth of the competition.

The opening 45 minutes were dominated by Galatasaray’s tactical attempts to disrupt Juventus’ rhythm by drawing fouls at every opportunity. That approach ceded possession to the hosts and allowed Juve to narrow the mountain they were climbing.

It took just 37 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Captain Manuel Locatelli calmly sent Uğurcan Çakır the wrong way from the penalty spot after Lucas Torreira fouled Khéphren Thuram inside the area.

The breakthrough followed sustained Juventus pressure. Federico Gatti and Teun Koopmeiners both saw headed efforts drift narrowly over the bar inside the opening ten minutes, inspired by Turkish forward Kenan Yıldız. Later, Yıldız himself was denied when his shot deflected off Davinson Sánchez and was pushed away by Çakır before Locatelli’s penalty gave Juve hope.

Galatasaray’s best chance of the first half came through Osimhen, whose first-time strike from Abdulkerim Bardakcı’s header forced Mattia Perin into his first significant save of the night.

Juventus’ momentum suffered a blow early in the second half when Lloyd Kelly received his second yellow card after catching Barış Yılmaz while attempting to clear a header. Reduced to ten men, Juve faced an uphill battle.

Yet they embraced the “Fino Alla Fine” mantra.

With twenty minutes remaining, Federico Gatti capitalised on Çakır’s spillage from Pierre Kalulu’s effort to reduce the deficit to one. The Allianz Stadium erupted as belief surged back into the contest.

Galatasaray appeared content to retain possession and protect their aggregate advantage. Osimhen again threatened, combining with Yılmaz and Mario Lemina before firing narrowly over the bar following Kalulu’s interception.

Khéphren Thuram squandered a golden one-on-one opportunity, lifting his effort over the crossbar, before Yıldız struck the woodwork from a sublime Jeremie Boga delivery.

Juventus’ resilience was eventually rewarded when Weston McKennie headed home at the near post to level the tie and send the game into extra time.

Juventus nearly completed the turnaround in extra time when Edon Zhegrova curled an effort just wide after being set up by McKennie.

But missed chances would prove costly.

Before the interval of extra time, Osimhen silenced the Turin crowd, striking through Perin’s legs to restore Galatasaray’s advantage.

Barış Yılmaz then sealed Galatasaray’s place in the last sixteen after Wilfried Singo’s sublime through ball split the Juventus defence in the closing stages.

The home crowd applauded the spectacle after an enthralling encounter, but it was Galatasaray who celebrated a historic progression reaching the Champions League last sixteen for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign.

They now await either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.