30.01.2026 17:40
In the draw for the last 16 playoff round of the Champions League, Galatasaray's opponent became Juventus. Following the matchup, the past crisis between Galatasaray's key forward Victor Osimhen and Juventus's head coach Luciano Spalletti came back to the forefront. Spalletti's decision to exclude Osimhen from the squad during a training session and send him off the field while he was at Napoli was recalled again with this matchup.
The draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 play-off was held in Nyon, Switzerland. As a result of the draw, Galatasaray was matched up against Juventus, one of the historic clubs in European football. The yellow-reds will play the first match in Istanbul, while the return match will take place in Turin.
DATES CONFIRMED
The play-off matches will be played on February 17-18 and February 24-25. The team that emerges victorious from this matchup will secure their place in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
SPALLETTI-OSIMHEN TENSION RESURFACES
After the draw, an interesting detail came back into focus. Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti had previously sidelined Victor Osimhen, who currently plays for Galatasaray, during a training session while he was in charge at Napoli. This incident, which was widely discussed in the Italian press for a long time, has been recalled with the Juventus-Galatasaray matchup.
ALL EYES ON OSIMHEN
Victor Osimhen, one of Galatasaray's most important assets in the attack, has already become a topic of curiosity regarding how he will perform against Spalletti on the field. The yellow-red fans see this matchup not only as a round battle but also as a symbolic confrontation.