For a long time, Juventus was the king of Italian football. They won the league title nine times in a row, and it seemed like no one could beat them. They had the best players, the most money, and a winning spirit that scared every other team.

But recently, things have changed. The “Old Lady” (the club’s famous nickname) is no longer at the top. After making some expensive mistakes, like spending too much money on superstar players and getting into trouble with league rules, the team has struggled to win. Board members have quit, coaches have been fired, and the team is now fighting just to stay in the top five.

Juventus used to be a machine that never stopped winning. Now, they are a team trying to find out who they are again.

The Golden Era: When the “Old Lady” Ruled the World

Before their recent struggles, Juventus was the undisputed king of Italian football and a giant in Europe. For nearly a century, they were known as the ultimate winning machine, but their modern peak was truly historic. Between 2012 and 2020, the club achieved something no other Italian team had ever done: they won nine straight Serie A titles. During this era, they weren’t just winning; they were dominating with legendary players like Gianluigi Buffon in goal and the famous defense of Bonucci, Barzagli, and Chiellini. Midfield masters like Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba controlled the games, and later, the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo helped them secure the final trophies of that record-breaking run.

Beyond Italy, Juventus has a rich history of international success. They have won two Champions League trophies (in 1985 and 1996) and were the first club in history to win every major European trophy. With a record 36 league titles and 15 Coppa Italia trophies, Juventus spent decades proving they weren’t just the best in Turin, but a powerhouse of global sports.

The Breaking Point: How the Winning Streak Finally Snapped

The downfall didn’t happen overnight, but the cracks started to show around 2020. After winning nine league titles in a row, Juventus took a huge risk by signing Cristiano Ronaldo for over 100 million euros. While he scored many goals, the team’s massive spending began to drain their bank account. To make matters worse, the club changed coaches frequently, moving away from their “win at all costs” style to try a more flashy way of playing that didn’t work. By 2021, Inter Milan finally broke Juve’s streak, and the “Old Lady” fell from first place to fourth. Soon after, the team faced serious legal trouble for how they handled their finances, leading to points being taken away and the entire board of directors resigning in 2022. The winning machine had finally run out of gas.

From First to Failing: The Recent Chaos

In the last few years, the “winning machine” has completely broken down. After winning nine straight titles, Juventus has struggled to even stay in the top three. They have finished in 4th place several times and even dropped to 7th in 2023 after being punished for financial mistakes. In the Champions League, where they used to be feared, they have suffered embarrassing early exits against smaller teams like Lyon, Porto, and Villarreal. For a club that used to reach the finals, failing to make it deep into the tournament has been a huge shock.

To try and fix these problems, the club has panicked and fired many coaches. Since 2019, they have cycled through Maurizio Sarri, Andrea Pirlo, Massimiliano Allegri, Thiago Motta, and Igor Tudor. Most recently, they turned to Luciano Spalletti to try and stop the decline. By changing managers so often and losing their spot at the top of the league, Juventus has gone from a stable empire to a club in total survival mode, searching for a way to become champions once again.

In the first two months of 2026, Juventus has played 8 matches across all competitions, recording 3 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.

While the year started strong with a 5-0 win over Cremonese, the team’s form has completely collapsed in February. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, which includes a high-scoring 3-2 defeat to rivals Inter Milan and most recently, a shocking 2-0 loss at home to Como.

The Current Crisis: A New Low in Istanbul

The 2025–2026 season was supposed to be a fresh start for Juventus under their new manager, Luciano Spalletti. Instead, the club has hit a rock bottom that no one saw coming. Just this month, on February 17, 2026, Juventus suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history. In the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, they were crushed 5-2 by Galatasaray.

Even though Teun Koopmeiners scored twice to give Juve a lead in the first half, the team collapsed completely after halftime. A red card for Juan Cabal left them with 10 men, and Galatasaray took full advantage, scoring four goals in the second half. It was the first time in the history of the Champions League that Juventus conceded five goals in a single match.

This loss in Europe comes while the team is also struggling in Italy. They are currently stuck in 5th place in Serie A, trailing far behind rivals like Inter and AC Milan. After recently losing to smaller teams like Como, the pressure on the board and the players has reached a boiling point. The club that once ruled Italy is now fighting just to keep its head above water.

The Final Stand: Everything on the Line in Turin

The upcoming second leg against Galatasaray on February 25 is no longer just a game; it is a battle for the club’s future. After the humiliating 5-2 collapse in the first leg, Juventus has a mountain to climb. To stay in the Champions League, they must win by at least three goals just to force extra time: a feat only four teams in history have ever managed after losing a first leg by such a large margin.

The task is made even harder by a depleted roster. Juventus will be without key defenders Juan Cabal and Andrea Cambiaso, who are both suspended, while star striker Dusan Vlahovic remains out with an injury. To make matters worse, the team’s defensive star, Gleison Bremer, is struggling with a thigh injury and is a major doubt for the start. Manager Luciano Spalletti will likely have to rely on a makeshift backline of Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti to stop a Galatasaray attack led by the dangerous Noa Lang. If Juve can pull off a “Miracle in Turin,” it could save their season. But if they fail, the focus shifts immediately to a desperate “six-pointer” against AS Roma this Sunday, where a loss could potentially knock them out of the race for next year’s Champions League entirely.