Bench brilliance and a CL thriller: Yildiz sparks Juventus past Bodø/Glimt 3-2
25 November 2025
Match recap
Kenan Yildiz, Juventus’ talented Turkish prospect, revealed he didn’t know he wouldn’t start against Bodø/Glimt and pledged to give his all once called upon. Juventus won a dramatic 3-2 at the Norwegian champions, sealing a crucial group-stage victory in the Champions League.
Bodø/Glimt broke the deadlock through Oli Blomberg in the 27th minute, before Juve flipped the script with two quick strikes by Obinda and Weston McKennie in the 48th and 59th minutes, putting the visitors ahead.
The home side levelled late via a 87th-minute penalty converted by Sondre Brunstad Bold, setting up a nerve-wracking finale. Juve then struck again through Jonathan David in stoppage time (90+1), snatching the win for the Italians.
Yildiz, coming on at halftime, had an immediate impact and was voted man of the match for his influence, including creating a chance for Fabio Miretti — a goal that was ruled offside. “I didn’t know I wouldn’t start,” he said afterward, “but I did my best to help the team when I came on.”
Locally, Yildiz also credited his performance to the team’s support, joking that the bench finally got its moment in the spotlight. He added that he focuses on aiding the team rather than chasing personal numbers.
In addition to the goal-team narrative, Miretti’s potential assist was erased by an offside call, a reminder that football often comes down to inches and milliseconds. “I thought it was the best moment for me in the game,” Yildiz quipped later, “and it would have been nice if he had scored too; it would have been the cherry on the cake.”
Remarkable turn in a group that has already seen drama
In European competition this season, Juve’s campaign has featured a rollercoaster of results: a 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund at home, a 2-2 stalemate with Villarreal away, a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid away, and a 1-1 draw with Sporting. A 3-2 win at Bodø/Glimt marks their first continental victory of the campaign, injecting belief into their bid to progress.
Italian league form as a broader backdrop
The 2025-2026 Serie A campaign began with a home win against Parma (2-0), followed by a tight 1-0 win at Genoa and a dramatic 4-3 Derby d’Italia victory over Inter. Subsequent draws with Verona (1-1) and Atalanta (1-1) kept Juve in the hunt but were followed by a goalless draw with Milan and then two disappointing results, first Como and then Lazio, prompting the departure of coach Igor Tudor.
Under the new manager Luciano Spalletti, Juventus began to stabilize, recording a 3-1 win over Udinese, followed by a 2-1 win at Cremonese and a goalless or narrow draw in the following local fixtures. After 12 league games, Juve had five wins, five draws and two losses, scoring 15 and conceding 11, sitting seventh with 20 points, seven behind Roma and four adrift of the last Champions League spot held by Inter.
Two punchlines for good measure: Punchline 1: When life gives you a bench, make a standing ovation—Yildiz just turned a sub into a star turn. Punchline 2: Juventus’ season is proof that great plots don’t need favorable lineups—they just need a dramatic finish and a dash of espresso-level timing.
