Kenan Yildiz: ‘Exciting match, wow at the Galatasaray fans’ | OneFootball

Kenan Yildiz admits it is ‘exciting’ as a Turkiye international to play Galatasaray in Istanbul, and scoring for Juventus here ‘would be a dream. All I can say about their fans is wow.’

It kicks off at the Ali Semi Yen in Istanbul at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta on the Liveblog.

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.

Kenan Yildiz excited by Galatasaray test

epa11997437 Juventus’s Kenan Yldiz celebrates scoring the 1-0 opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and CFC Genoa, in Juventus, Italy, 29 March 2025. EPA-EFE/Alessandro Di Marco

“I feel great, when you are in this stadium with these fans, it’s exciting, but we are fired up for a good performance,” Kenan Yildiz told Sky Sport Italia.

Juventus are fresh off a controversial 3-2 Serie A defeat to Inter, where Pierre Kalulu was sent off before half-time for a highly-contentious second bookable offence.

“The last match was very difficult for us after the red card, but I still think we had a great performance down to 10 men.”

TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 12: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Lecce at Allianz Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Kenan Yildiz was born and raised in Germany, then moved to Italy for Juventus as a teenager, so this is his first time playing in Istanbul as an opponent.

“We’ll do everything today to get a victory. Scoring would be a dream, but let’s play and then see. This is a very difficult match, as Galatasaray are such a great team, and all I can say about their fans is wow.”

Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella is in the stands to watch the game.