PISA, ITALY – DECEMBER 27: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC looks on during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Juventus FC at Arena Garibaldi on December 27, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Juventus adopt a surprising False 9 approach to Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray in the Champions League play-off, with Weston McKennie flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao.
It kicks off at the Ali Semi Yen in Istanbul at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).
This is the first leg of the play-off for a place in the Round of 16, and the second is on Wednesday February 25.
The Bianconeri had a dismal start to their Champions League campaign, improving considerably once coach Luciano Spalletti took over from sacked Igor Tudor.
They are fresh off a controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter in Serie A at the weekend, with Pierre Kalulu sent off and therefore suspended for the next league game.
Khephren Thuram missed that match through injury, but has fully recovered and returns to the starting XI.
Jonathan David did not make the trip, but rather than start Lois Openda upfront, Spalletti opts for a surprising new McKennie role as the False 9, flanked by Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao.
Along with David, Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik remain the long-term absentees.
Galatasaray had started quite strong with wins over Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt and Ajax, but then managed one point from the last four Champions League ties, losing to Union Saint-Gilloise, AS Monaco and Manchester City without scoring, around a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
Former Serie A midfielder Mario Lemina is suspended for the first leg of this play-off, but there are no major injury concerns.
The star man upfront is ex-Napoli striker Osimhen, who won the Scudetto under coach Spalletti.
There are other familiar faces, including Lucas Torreira, Noa Lang on loan from Napoli and ex-Inter hitman Mauro Icardi.
Juve have not beaten Galatasaray since a 2-1 home result in September 2023, managing one draw in the last three meetings, though the most recent was in December 2013.
Galatasaray vs. Juventus line-ups
Galatasaray: Ugurcan Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Gabriel Sara; Baris Alper Yilmaz, Yunus Akgun, Lang; Osimhen
Galatasaray bench: Batuhan Sen, Gunay Guvenc, Icardi, Sané, Eren Elmali, Gundogan, Ahmed Kutucu, Asprilla, Kaan Ayhan, Singo, Boey
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Koopmeiners, Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz
Juventus bench: Perin, Pinsoglio, Gatti, Zhegrova, Boga, Adzic, Kostic, Openda, Miretti, Cabal
Ref: Makkelie (NED)
