JAKARTA - Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli felt like crying after seeing his team's incredible fight in the Champions League end in a narrow defeat against Galatasaray on Thursday, February 26, 2026, early morning WIB.
After falling behind 2-5 in the first leg, Juventus took a 3-0 lead in the second leg. The result made the match more tense because the aggregate was tied 5-5 until the 82nd minute.
Even though, Juventus played with 10 players almost throughout the second half after Lloyd Kelly's red card. Even so, the Old Lady was able to force the match into extra time.
However, Galatasaray scored two goals in the extra time to change the score to 3-2. Despite losing in the second leg, the Turkish team still qualified for the next round because they won 7-5 aggregate.
Juventus fans gave their team a standing ovation after the game despite their elimination.
"It almost makes me want to cry because of how much faith we have. I think we gave our hearts and more than that."
"This is the kind of game that will always stick in your mind," Locatelli said.
Juventus defender Federico Gatti, who scored the team's second goal, felt the team's chances of qualifying for the next round had disappeared last week.
"It's frustrating because we went into extra time a little bit tired. We've really got the game back on track."
"However, I will say it again. We let it go in the first leg. A game like this shouldn't end like that," Gatti said.
Juventus' defeat means only one Italian team remains in the Champions League for the last 16 after Atalanta pulled off a stunning comeback to knock out Borussia Dortmund.
Luciano Spalletti's side have also struggled in the domestic competition, sitting fifth in Serie A, four points behind AS Roma for the final Champions League spot next season.
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