Sports
Galatasaray shatter Juventus’ brave rally to seal UCL last 16 spot
Galatasaray are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2014, but they needed every ounce of resilience to survive a furious, 10-man Juventus side that refused to bow out quietly in Turin.
Holding a commanding 5-2 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul, the Turkish champions appeared in control of the tie.
Instead, they were dragged into a bruising, emotional contest that swung wildly before being settled by two clinical blows in extra time.
Juventus won 3-2 on the night, but Galatasaray advanced 7-5 on aggregate after a drama-filled 120 minutes.
Juventus ignite belief
Juventus entered the match in poor domestic form, winless in five and short on confidence. What followed was a display that defied their recent struggles.
The hosts pressed early and created clear chances.
Federico Gatti headed over from close range, while Kenan Yıldız and Manuel Locatelli both tested Uğurcan Çakır.
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Lucas Torreira clipped Khephren Thuram in the box. Locatelli converted the penalty with authority, cutting the deficit and igniting the crowd.
Juventus sensed vulnerability. Galatasaray, so fluent in the first leg, looked uneasy under pressure.
Then came the turning point.
Red card and resistance
Three minutes after halftime, Lloyd Kelly was dismissed. Initially shown a second yellow for catching Barış Alper Yılmaz while landing from a jump, the decision was upgraded to a straight red after a pitchside review for serious foul play. Kelly stood in disbelief. Juventus were down to 10 men, mirroring the first leg when they also finished a man short.
The dismissal should have killed the comeback. Instead, it fueled it.
Gatti atoned for his earlier misses by tapping in at the back post from Pierre Kalulu’s delivery with 20 minutes remaining. Yıldız then struck the post as Juventus surged forward with remarkable intensity for a side reduced in numbers.
With eight minutes left in regulation, Weston McKennie rose inside the six-yard box to head home and level the tie on aggregate. Against the odds, Juventus had erased a three-goal deficit.
“I feel like crying. We gave our heart and soul,” Locatelli said afterward. “These games stay in your heart.”
Fine margins in extra time
Juventus carried their momentum into extra time and nearly completed the turnaround. Edon Zhegrova found himself unmarked six yards out but blazed over in what will haunt him. It was the clearest chance of the tie.
Galatasaray punished the miss with ruthless efficiency.
Just before the break in extra time, Victor Osimhen collected a pass from Yılmaz inside the area and calmly slid his finish through Mattia Perin’s legs. The goal halted Juventus’ charge and restored control to the visitors.
Çakır then preserved the aggregate lead with a sharp reflex save from Zhegrova.
As Juventus tired, spaces opened. In the closing stages, Yılmaz burst forward on the counterattack and applied the decisive finish, ending hopes of penalties.
Galatasaray’s progression owed more to resolve than dominance. Despite playing nearly 75 minutes with a numerical advantage, they struggled to dictate tempo and were repeatedly pinned back by a side reduced to 10.
Yet the individual quality of Osimhen, signed at significant cost last summer, proved decisive when it mattered most.
The knockout stages of Europe’s top club competitions take shape on Friday as UEFA conducts the round-of-16 draws for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League at its Nyon headquarters in Switzerland.
For the first time under the expanded league-phase format, the draws will not only decide round-of-16 matchups but also map the quarterfinal and semifinal routes, giving clubs a full view of the road to the finals in Budapest and beyond.
Galatasaray await English opposition
Galatasaray, Türkiye’s reigning champions, booked their spot in the round of 16 with a dramatic 7-5 aggregate win over Juventus in the playoff round.
Under UEFA’s new draw rules, the Istanbul giants will face one of two English Premier League powerhouses: Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
The 16-team round features eight seeded clubs, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City, who finished in the top eight of the league phase and will host the second legs.
The remaining eight teams, including Galatasaray, earned their spots through the knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, and Galatasaray.
Round-of-16 fixtures kick off with first legs on March 10-11, followed by return legs on March 17-18.
The draw will immediately reveal the path to the final, offering a rare look at potential quarterfinal and semifinal clashes.
Fenerbahçe’s do-or-die scenario
Fenerbahçe faces a monumental task in the Europa League, trailing 0-3 from the first leg against Nottingham Forest.
A stunning comeback would see the Turkish side enter Friday’s draw as an unseeded team, potentially facing Real Betis or Midtjylland in the round of 16.
Eight teams already qualified from the league phase, Olympique Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, SC Freiburg, and Roma, will be joined by the winners of today’s playoff second legs to complete the round-of-16 field.
Matches are set for March 12 and 19, mirroring the schedule of the Conference League.
Conference League bracket
The Conference League follows the same structure, with the top eight league-phase teams seeded and playoff winners filling out the remaining spots.
The draw will fix the bracket through the semifinals, giving teams clarity on the potential road to the final. Turkish clubs are not represented at this stage.
These draws mark a pivotal moment in the 2025/26 European season.
Galatasaray’s round-of-16 entry offers a chance to test themselves against two of England’s elite sides, while Fenerbahçe’s fight for survival against Nottingham Forest could be a defining chapter in their continental campaign.
Samsunspor return home on Thursday knowing 90 minutes stand between them and a place in the UEFA Conference League last 16.
The Turkish side carry a narrow 1-0 advantage into the second leg against Macedonian champions Shkendija at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu, earned through Marius Mouandilmadji’s 77th-minute strike in Skopje.
It was a disciplined away display that handed them control of the tie. Now they must show they can finish it.
Samsunspor’s European campaign has followed a familiar pattern.
They opened the league phase with authority, winning their first three matches while scoring seven goals and conceding none.
Confidence surged. Then the rhythm disappeared. One draw and two defeats in their final three fixtures left them 12th in the standings, short of automatic qualification.
Domestic form told a similar story. A bright start in the Turkish Super Lig faded sharply, prompting the dismissal of Thomas Reis and the arrival of Thorsten Fink.
The German coach steadied the ship in Europe with that first leg victory over Shkendija, but last weekend’s goalless draw against bottom side Fatih Karagumruk highlighted the inconsistency that continues to shadow the team.
At home, however, Samsunspor have looked far more assured. Two of their three league phase victories at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu came by commanding 3-0 scorelines. Their only defeat there was a tight 2-1 loss to AEK Athens.
The numbers suggest they are comfortable on their own turf and capable of protecting a slim advantage.
Shkendija’s task is clear and daunting. The Macedonian champions lost all three of their away matches in the league phase, scoring no goals.
That statistic alone underlines the scale of the challenge.
They scraped into the playoff round after finishing 22nd with two wins, one draw and three defeats, progressing only on goal difference. Yet domestic momentum offers encouragement.
The Ballists have won five straight league matches, including all three played in 2026.
Arbin Zejnullai’s 89th-minute winner at the weekend served as an immediate response to the first-leg setback.
It restored belief and handed coach Jeton Beqiri fresh hope that his side can produce something historic in their first appearance in the main draw of a major UEFA competition.
Team news may tilt the balance further toward the hosts. Samsunspor remain stretched by injuries. Bedirhan Cetin and Tanguy Coulibaly are sidelined with knee problems.
Afonso Sousa is still recovering from an ankle issue, while Emre Kilinc is out with a calf tear. Tahsin Bulbul and Elayis Tavsan are also expected to miss out.
Shkendija, by contrast, arrive close to full strength. Liridon Latifi and Aleksander Trumci return from suspension after missing the first leg, giving Beqiri additional options.
Veteran striker Besart Ibraimi, still searching for his first goal in this season’s competition, is set to lead the line as the visitors chase a turnaround.
Manchester United opened the doors of Old Trafford on Tuesday evening for a historic Ramadan Iftar, blending faith, football, and community under the floodlights of one of English football’s most iconic stadiums.
Organised by the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club (MUMSC) in partnership with the club, the event welcomed around 80 fans selected via ballot, along with special guests, marking a significant step in the club’s inclusivity efforts.
The 2026 Iftar was particularly historic: for the first time ever, the Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, echoed across the stands.
Fans broke their fast as the Adhan rang out, followed by Qur’an recitations and communal prayers led by English Qur’an reciter Ibrahim Idris.
Among the attendees was Moroccan international defender Noussair Mazraoui, who joined United from Bayern Munich in 2024 and has openly observed Ramadan while fulfilling his professional duties.
Mazraoui’s presence underlined the club’s commitment to supporting both players and fans of all faiths.
Manchester United academy coach Imran Hamid, a UEFA B Licence holder and Premier League “No Room For Racism” Icon nominee, also attended, inspiring young academy players. Hamid told attendees, “It is a blessing that some first-team players came and shared their experiences. I hope that some of the children here today will one day become first-team players and speak at future events.”
MUMSC President Asif Mahmud described the evening as the realisation of a long-held dream, calling it a milestone for Muslim supporters at one of football’s most famous clubs.
Since its official recognition in August 2024, MUMSC has partnered with Manchester United to promote inclusivity through initiatives including multi-faith prayer rooms at Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex, educational faith sessions for academy players, and previous Iftar gatherings for staff and supporters.
Social media reactions to the Adhan at Old Trafford were overwhelmingly positive, with fans calling the moment “historic,” “surreal,” and “beautiful.” While a few questioned religious observances at a football venue, the event largely stood as a celebration of unity, diversity, and shared values.
Fenerbahçe arrive in Nottingham, Thursday, with their European season hanging by a thread and a daunting equation in front of them.
Beaten 3-0 in Istanbul last week, the Turkish side must produce one of the greatest comebacks in their continental history when they face Nottingham Forest in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoff.
The arithmetic is unforgiving. Fenerbahçe need a four-goal victory to progress outright. A three-goal win would force extra time and possibly penalties.
Any other result, including a narrow Forest defeat, sends the Premier League side into the last 16, where either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland await.
Forest under Pereira
Forest seized control of the tie with ruthless efficiency in Istanbul.
Newly appointed head coach Vitor Pereira, facing his former club just days into the job, watched his side dominate from the outset.
Murillo opened the scoring, Igor Jesus doubled the lead and Morgan Gibbs-White added a third before the hour mark, completing a clinical display that stunned the home crowd.
It was not just the margin but the manner. Forest pressed high, transitioned quickly and exposed Fenerbahçe’s defensive gaps with alarming ease.
The 3-0 result stands as the club’s biggest away win in European competition.
Domestic reality remains tense. A 97th-minute winner conceded against Liverpool in the Premier League left Forest 17th, hovering just two points above the relegation zone.
Yet in Europe, they have found clarity. A third consecutive continental victory would mark their best run in the competition since the 1983-84 campaign.
Igor Jesus has been central to that surge. The Brazilian is joint top scorer in this season’s Europa League with seven goals and is expected to spearhead the attack again, potentially ahead of January arrival Lorenzo Lucca.
Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Ryan Yates are all one booking away from suspension but remain key to Forest’s balance.
Injuries, however, have trimmed Pereira’s options. Chris Wood, Nicolo Savona, John Victor and Willy Boly are sidelined with knee issues, while goalkeeper Matz Sels is out with a groin problem. Luca Netz is ineligible for European action.
Fenerbahçe’s uphill battle
For Fenerbahçe, belief must outweigh precedent.
History offers little encouragement. The Yellow Canaries have never overturned a first-leg defeat in 26 previous European knockout ties.
Against English opposition, they have won just four of 22 encounters.
They have also claimed only one victory in their last six Europa League matches.
The personnel situation compounds the challenge. Fred and Jayden Oosterwolde are suspended, while Milan Skriniar, Çağlar Söyüncü, Anderson Talisca, Ederson and Edson Alvarez are ruled out through injury. Anthony Musaba and Mert Günok are not registered for the competition.
The defensive shortage is acute. Yiğit Efe stands as the only natural center back available, forcing coach Domenico Tedesco to consider reshuffling, with Mert Müldür or Matteo Guendouzi possible emergency solutions at the heart of the back line.
Yet there is context that fuels hope. Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in 14 away matches in all competitions since September.
Domestically, they remain firmly in the Süper Lig title race. A dramatic 1-1 draw with Kasımpaşa on Monday extended their unbeaten league run to 23 matches and kept them within two points of leaders Galatasaray.
The contrast is stark. At home in Europe, they have stumbled. On the road in all competitions, they have thrived.
Everything to chase, everything to protect
Forest can approach the night with structure and patience, protecting a three-goal cushion in front of a raucous City Ground.
Fenerbahçe must attack without recklessness, score early and withstand the counterattacking threat that punished them in the first leg.
Adana Demirspor’s fall has taken another brutal turn, with FIFA imposing a further 12-point deduction that effectively seals the club’s second straight relegation and leaves one of Türkiye’s proud provincial sides staring into an uncertain future.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctioned the TFF 1. Lig club over two separate cases involving overdue payables, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed on Monday, 2026.
The rulings were processed under FIFA Clearing House procedures, which monitor solidarity payments, training compensation and outstanding transfer-related debts.
Under FIFA regulations, each unresolved file typically carries a six-point deduction once clubs fail to settle notified amounts after repeated warnings. If debts remain unpaid, sanctions escalate to transfer bans.
In Adana Demirspor’s case, both penalties were applied, adding 12 more points to a season already defined by sanctions.
Story-telling table
The latest punishment drops the club to minus 45 points. After 27 matches in the 2025-26 TFF 1. Lig season, Adana Demirspor sit 20th and last in the 20-team table with no wins, three draws and 24 defeats.
They have scored 16 goals and conceded 120, a staggering goal difference of minus 104.
Even a flawless finish to the campaign would not be enough to survive. Relegation to the TFF 2. Lig is now a mathematical certainty.
Financial freefall
The scale of the collapse is striking.
Adana Demirspor ended a 26-year absence from the top flight when they won promotion in 2020-21.
Two seasons later, under Vincenzo Montella, they finished fourth in the Süper Lig and qualified for Europe for the first time in club history.
The Mediterranean side, founded in 1940 and backed by one of Türkiye’s most passionate fan bases, appeared to have built a sustainable platform.
Instead, mounting debts reversed the trajectory.
In January 2024, FIFA imposed a transfer ban covering three consecutive windows over unpaid obligations.
Key players departed, reinforcements were blocked and the squad weakened. The club survived the 2023-24 campaign, finishing 12th, but the reprieve was brief.
The 2024-25 season unraveled quickly. Still under transfer restrictions, the team relied heavily on youth players and loans. Relegation was confirmed on March 16, 2025, with 10 matchdays remaining, an early and sobering verdict on the widening crisis.
Domestic turmoil
Financial sanctions were compounded by disciplinary trouble at home.
In February 2025, during a heated Süper Lig clash against Galatasaray, Adana Demirspor players walked off the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded following an incident involving Alvaro Morata.
The federation ruled the match a 3-0 forfeit defeat and handed the club an additional three-point deduction.
Chairman Murat Sancak received a 30-day ban and a TL 500,000 fine, adding administrative strain to sporting collapse.
Sanctions stack up
Relegation did not halt the slide.
Throughout the 2025-26 season in the second division, FIFA continued to issue six-point deductions tied to unresolved Clearing House cases.
Multiple files related to unpaid salaries, agent commissions and inter-club transfer obligations pushed the club into negative territory long before this latest ruling.
The transfer ban remains in place until all outstanding amounts are cleared, leaving the squad unable to strengthen and increasingly uncompetitive.
Heavy defeats, including multiple five-goal losses, have become routine. Attendances and morale have dipped accordingly.
As of Tuesday, no appeal or confirmed settlement has been announced.
The focus now shifts to limiting further damage and preparing for life in the third tier, where financial scrutiny and licensing requirements could present new hurdles.
Sancak has repeatedly cited debts inherited from previous administrations, yet FIFA’s enforcement framework leaves little flexibility once deadlines are missed.
Galatasaray travel to Turin on Wednesday with one foot in the Champions League round of 16 after dismantling Juventus 5-2 in a breathtaking first leg in Istanbul, leaving the Italian giants facing the kind of comeback that rarely materializes at this level.
At RAMS Park, the Turkish champions produced one of their finest European performances in over a decade.
They trailed 2-1 at halftime despite starting brightly, with Teun Koopmeiners punishing them twice with sharp finishing and intelligent late runs.
For a brief spell, the Allianz Stadium return felt like it might be a formality for Juventus.
Instead, the second half became a showcase of Galatasaray’s pace, composure and ruthlessness.
Noa Lang tore into space with fearless direct running, scoring twice and constantly unsettling Juventus’ reshuffled defense.
Gabriel Sara orchestrated everything from midfield, drifting between lines and creating wave after wave of pressure.
Up front, Victor Osimhen imposed himself physically, dragging center backs out of position and opening lanes for runners. Once Juventus were reduced to 10 men, the floodgates opened. Galatasaray scored four unanswered goals, turning a tense contest into a statement.
The statistics reflected the dominance. Galatasaray controlled possession, nearly tripled Juventus in total shots and repeatedly exploited transitions. Their press forced mistakes, their midfield screened effectively, and their finishing was clinical.
Now the stage shifts to Turin, where Juventus must attempt what history suggests is unlikely. Without the away goals rule, the equation is simple.
Galatasaray can afford a draw, a win or even a defeat by one or two goals. Juventus must win by three just to force extra time and by four to advance outright.
They have never overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit in the Champions League knockout rounds.
Context only deepens the challenge.
Juventus are enduring a turbulent stretch domestically. A damaging defeat to Inter in the Derby d’Italia was followed by a shock home loss to Como, exposing defensive fragility and a lack of cutting edge.
Coach Luciano Spalletti has spoken openly about the need for personality and urgency, yet injuries have limited his options.
Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik remain sidelined, depriving the team of a natural focal point.
Kenan Yıldız, the 20-year-old Turkish winger who has contributed nine goals and eight assists this season, is managing a calf issue but could feature.
His creativity and drive may be central to any hope of an early breakthrough.
Juventus will likely press high from the opening whistle, pushing full-backs forward and asking Koopmeiners to dictate tempo.
The risk is obvious. Committing numbers forward leaves space behind, and that is precisely where Galatasaray are most dangerous.
Galatasaray arrive with confidence shaped by both European momentum and domestic authority.
They sit atop the Super Lig and have built a squad capable of mixing steel with flair despite a 2-0 slip-up in Konya on Saturday.
Okan Buruk has emphasized focus and discipline, wary of complacency.
Osimhen is nursing a knee concern, which could blunt some of their counterattacking threat, yet the structure remains intact.
Mauro Icardi is expected to feature if he proves his fitness, but if he falls short, Buruk could turn to Kerem Demirbay in a reshuffled setup or push one of his wingers into a more advanced role to maintain attacking threat.
Lucas Torreira anchors the midfield with relentless energy, Sara provides invention, and Lang’s movement offers a constant outlet.
Tactically, the battle may hinge on midfield control.
If Juventus can pin Galatasaray deep and circulate the ball with speed and precision, the pressure inside Allianz Stadium will build quickly.
An early goal would transform the atmosphere and belief. But if Galatasaray absorb that surge and strike on the counter, the tie could effectively end long before the final whistle.
There is also a broader narrative at play. For Galatasaray, progression would mark their first appearance in the Champions League round of 16 since the 2013-14 campaign and underline their resurgence on the continental stage.
For Juventus, elimination would intensify scrutiny on Spalletti’s first season and shift attention firmly toward salvaging a top-four finish in Serie A.
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