UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Play-offs 1st Leg Highlights

Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus - Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi

An incredible second half comeback from Galatasaray led by Noa Lang as they came back from 1-2 down at half time to win 5-2 in Istanbul. They dominated the game in terms of stats as they got the better of Juventus. Galatasaray had 4 times as many shots as their opponents and 9 of them on target to the 2 of Juve. 

It was bad for Juventus in the second half as by the time it had reached 67 minutes they were 3-2 down and were a man down. Juan Cabal who had only come on as a substitute at half time was given his marching orders after a needless foul on Yilmaz gave the referee no choice but to send him off. After that, Galatasaray didn’t look back and scored 5 to take a 3 goal lead to defend in Turin.

Galatasaray took the lead in the first quarter of an hour of the game. It was all their own making as they could not clear their lines from the edge of their own box. The ball fell to Gabriel Sara on the edge of the box. He bent the ball round Kalulu to give Di Gregorio no chance as it flew past him into the goal. A disappointing goal to concede for Juventus. 

 However, Juventus wasted no time to equalise and scored straight from kick off to stun the crowd. A great ball into the box by Andrea Cambiaso and a header from Kalulu but the keeper could only parry the ball. Although Cakir could only put it into the path of Koopmeiners who tapped it in from close range. 

The second goal from Juventus was a great move to transform defence into attack. Koopmeiners played the ball to Locatelli and back before doing the same thing to McKennie. The ball back from McKennie put Koopmeiners through and he let off a shot with venom into the top corner and the roof of the net from just inside the box. A terrific finish to put Juventus ahead in the match. 

It took Galatasaray just 4 minutes after half time to level the match again. A goal which had similarities to the first Juventus goal. The ball was fired at goal by Yilmaz from the corner of the box. Di Gregorio could only parry it and it went straight to the feet of Noa Lang to score. 

On the half hour mark the Turkish team led again from a free kick on the edge of the side of the box. Gabriel Sara whipped the ball in with pace and a slight glance off of Davinson Sanchez put it past the goalkeeper. A great delivery with the touch needed to put it into the back of the net, leaving Di Gregorio with no chance from such close range. 

The 4th goal for Galatasaray was a terrible goal to give away by Juventus. They made their mistakes at the back as they were over playing whilst trying to clear their lines and it cost them. Lloyd Kelly was given the ball in the box but seemed to be unaware that Osimhen was behind him. He tried to make it round Osimhe but was intercepted by the Nigerian. The interception ran straight into the path of Noa Lang near the penalty spot, in which he made no mistake in lifting it over a rushing Di Gregorio to make it 4-2. 

A perfect second half performance for the Turkish side was topped when they got a 5th in the 86th minute. There was good play between Sane and Boey as they moved the ball up the field. Sane put it towards Osimhen in the box and he showed great strength to win the battle against Kelly at the back and set Boey. Boey then took a touch to set himself up for a shot and blasted it in as it clipped off the inside of the post. He had only just come off the bench as a sub and scored within 3 minutes. 

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter - Aspmyra Stadion

The incredible form of Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League this season continued as they won again against another of the best teams in Europe. In the first half, Inter appeared the better team and should have been ahead at half time but could only manage to be level at half time. 

However, Bodo/Glimt came out in the second half and were a much more clinical team. They scored 2 goals just past the hour mark to lead 3-1 and held on to take the advantage to Milan. A story which has become more and more familiar with Bodo/Glimt in their most recent UCL matches. They got the better of last year’s finalists to give Inter all the work to do at the San Siro. 

In the 20th minute, Bodo/Glimt took the lead with their first meaningful chance of the game. There was some neat and tidy play through the middle of the pitch by Hakon Evjen and Kasper Hogh before it reached Sondre Brunstad Fet. The ball was flicked into him cleverly by Hogh. He took a touch into the box and placed it into the bottom corner to give Bodo/Glimt the lead. 

Inter’s equaliser came within 10 minutes of their opposition's goal. It was a goal largely to the credit of Acerbi and Barella. Acerbi with a vital tackle to stop a possibly dangerous counter attack for Bodo/Glimt and Barella with a great ball in from the right. The ball caused confusion in the box amongst the Bodo/Glimt defenders and led to a shot on the turn by Pio Esposito from close range to put Inter level. 

Just past the hour mark Bodo/Glimt were ahead again. It was a preventable goal from an Inter perspective as they gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch needlessly. Then with one pass Inter were opened up and there was a 4 on 3 in Bodo/Glimt’s favour. High then just had to pick his moment for the right option and laid it off for Hauge on the left side of the box to unleash a fierce shot into the roof of the net. A terrific strike from the Norwegian to continue his good form in the Champions League this season. 

In the 64th minute, just 3 minutes after their second goal Bodo/Glimt had their 3rd goal. It was another great move by the team as they moved from defence to attack with great efficiency. From their left it was 2 touch football into the box and a square ball to Hogh with an empty net in front of him that he could not miss from 5 yards out.

Club Brugge 3-3 Atletico Madrid - Jan Breydel Stadium

Another high scoring game for Club Brugge with an identical score line to when they played Barcelona earlier in the season at home. Brugge did show great character and fight in the match to come back multiple times over the course of the 90 minutes. From 0-2 down they came back to 2-2 within 15 minutes of the second half. Then scored in the 89th minute when 2-3 down to make it all to play for in the second leg in the Spanish capital. 

On the other hand, Atletico did have a good first half as they went in 2-0 up at half time with goals from Julian Alvarez and Adamola Lookman. From only 4 shots on target they did score 3 which will be a positive for them as well. Although, they may be frustrated at being ahead for so long in the match and not being able to win the game. With that being said, Atletico will fancy their chances in the Metropolitano with the score still level. 

In the 5th minute of the game, Atletico appealed for a penalty after what appeared to be a handball by Joaquin Seys in the box. After a VAR review by referee Glenn Nyberg, he awarded a penalty to Atletico. Julian Alvarez took the penalty and drilled it into the bottom right corner to give Atleti an early lead. 

Their lead was doubled in first half added time from a corner that was delivered by Alvarez. He whipped the ball to the front post, where it appeared to get flicked on by Griezmann. It found its way to Lookman at the back post virtually on the line as he tapped it into the net. 

Just 6 minutes into the second half Club Brugge had a goal back. Another goal from a corner as captain Vanaken headed the ball forward and it was headed towards goal by Tresoldi. He then forced a save from Oblak in the Atletico goal but it was put into the path of Onyedika who poked it in. 

The equaliser for Club Brugge was made by Mamadou Diakhon down the left side. He managed to get the better of his man and gave himself space to put the ball across the box. Waiting in the box was Tresoldi as he got in between the defender and goalkeeper and put it in the bottom corner to make it 2-2. 

Atletico’s 3rd goal came with just over 10 minutes to play. They moved the ball from left to right and it looks similar to the goal Club Brugge scored for their equaliser. A ball across the box which wasn’t dealt with and was making its way to the back post when defender Joel Ordonez tried to clear it but ended up putting it into his own net. As the ball came across Sorloth was lurking at the back post which may have panicked the defender with an unforced error as a result. 

In the 89th minute, Clube Brugge had their second equaliser of the match and made it 3-3. There were 2 passes through the middle of the pitch that went straight through the entire Atletico team. Onyedika moved the ball into the space for Tzolis to take a few touches and set himself before shooting into the bottom corner. There was an initial decision of offside to rule out the goal but after a VAR review it was deemed a goal and Club Brugge had their equaliser.