Juventus vs Galatasaray: Date, Time, Channels & Lineups – Champions League 2026
Juventus face a daunting task Wednesday evening as they host Galatasaray at the Juventus Stadium, seeking to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit in their Champions League playoff tie. The match, scheduled for an 8:00 PM GMT kickoff, presents a significant challenge for the Turin club, requiring a victory by at least three goals to even force extra time.
The first leg in Istanbul proved disastrous for Juventus, with a brace from Teun Koopmeiners failing to offset goals from Gabriel Sara, Lucas Torreira and a double from Noa Lang. A red card issued to Juan Cabal further compounded the Bianconeri’s problems, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return fixture.
Juventus will be without several key players for the match, including Jonathan David, Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic, and Arek Milik. However, Khephren Thuram is expected to return to the lineup after missing the controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter. Weston McKennie was deployed as a surprise False 9 in the first leg, a tactical decision that may be revisited by coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, will be without the suspended Mario Lemina but can rely on a strong attacking lineup featuring former Serie A stars Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, Noa Lang, and Lucas Torreira. The Turkish side will be looking to capitalize on their first-leg advantage and secure a place in the Champions League group stage.
According to probable lineups, Juventus are expected to field a team consisting of Di Gregorio in goal, with Kalulu, Gatti, and Kelly in defense. McKennie, Thuram, Locatelli, and Kostic will likely form the midfield, supporting an attacking trio of Conceicao, David, and Miretti. Galatasaray’s lineup is anticipated to include Cakir in goal, Sallai, Sanchez, and Bardacki in defense, with Jakobs providing width on the left. Torreira and Sara will anchor the midfield, supporting an attacking quartet of Yilmaz, Akgün, Lang, and Osimhen.
The match will be broadcast on a variety of channels including Arena Sport 2 Hrvatska HD, beIN Connect MENA HD, beIN Sports MENA 3 HD, DAZN 1 Bar Deutsch HD, DAZN Deutsch, Discovery+ UK, Disney+ UK, Paramount+ USA, Play Sports 3 Belgium, Sport TV Azerbaijan, TNT Sports 3 HD, TNT Sports 5 HD, Tring Sport 2 HD, TRT 1 Türkiye HD, TV3 MAX Dansk HD, ViaPlay Danmark HD, ViaPlay Sverige HD, Virgin Media PLAY, Virgin Media TV, and Virgin Media Two HD.
Andrea Cambiaso’s booking in the first leg means he will be suspended for the second leg, adding to Juventus’s defensive concerns. The second leg in Turin represents a critical juncture for both clubs, with the victor progressing to the Champions League group stage and the loser facing elimination.