Italian press lauds Galatasaray: 'An unstoppable train'

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ROME, ITALY —  Galatasaray's resounding 5-2 victory over Italian giants Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League play-off round has sent shockwaves through the Italian sports media. The country's leading newspapers reacted with harsh criticism for Juventus, labeling the performance a "historic disgrace," while heaping praise on the Turkish side's dominant display.

According to reports from Rome, the heavy defeat suffered by the "Old Lady" dominated the headlines, signaling a potential early exit from Europe's premier club competition.

Gazzetta dello Sport: "A historic disgrace"

Italy’s most prestigious sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport, did not mince words, running the headline "It Can't Be Like This" alongside the subhead "Historic Disgrace in the Champions League." The report stated, "The Black and Whites suffered one of the heaviest defeats in their European history. They are one step away from elimination."

Recalling the 2013 match in Istanbul that was abandoned due to snow and resulted in Juventus's exit, the paper wrote, "This time, there was no need for sneaky snowplows. Galatasaray simply had to play to crush a Juventus side that was unrecognizable, hollow, and self-destructive to the point of masochism." The paper described Galatasaray as "very successful, intense, courageous, and passionate."

Tuttosport: "Galatasaray was like an unstoppable train"

Turin-based Tuttosport led with the headline "Juve, Total Alarm." Dedicating five full pages to the match, one analysis likened Galatasaray to an "unstoppable train." The paper's editorial was scathing: "The humiliating 5-2 defeat is spitting on Juventus's history. Those on the pitch must clean this up somehow... dissolving like yesterday is not behavior befitting those who wear that jersey."

The paper also highlighted the quality of Galatasaray's squad, noting, "We are talking about Osimhen and Icardi. These are luxuries that no one in Italy can afford."

Corriere della Sera: "Ali Sami Yen hell"

Corriere della Sera described the match atmosphere as the "Ali Sami Yen hell" and declared that Juventus had experienced an "international disgrace." The paper criticized Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, stating, "He gave the team an identity, but that is not enough. Juventus has lost three of its last four matches and conceded 13 goals."

Road to the Round of 16

Galatasaray now holds a massive advantage heading into the second leg. The Turkish champions can advance to the Round of 16 with a win, a draw, or even a loss by a two-goal margin. Juventus, on the other hand, faces a mountainous task, needing a victory by at least four goals to progress. The winner of this tie will face either Liverpool or Tottenham in the next round.

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