Juventus Outrage After Controversial Red Card in Derby d’Italia Thriller—How It Changes the Serie A Title Race

Juventus’ turbulent week has swung from San Siro controversy to a cauldron in Istanbul, yet Luciano Spalletti’s men insist the narrative can still bend their way. Saturday’s 3-2 Derby d’Italia defeat exploded when referee Federico La Penna showed Pierre Kalulu a highly-debated second yellow, leaving Juve to battle Inter with ten men for an hour—a decision Serie A’s refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi later branded “clearly wrong”. Despite the numerical handicap, the Bianconeri twice clawed level through Andrea Cambiaso and captain Manuel Locatelli before Francesco Pio Esposito’s late header sealed Inter’s victory. The loss keeps Juve fifth, 15 points off the summit but still locked in a fierce Champions League qualification race. Sporting director Giorgio Chiellini and CEO Damien Comolli lambasted the officiating, yet Spalletti quickly pivoted to Europe: “I told the guys I’m proud—I wouldn’t trade them for anyone,” he said before boarding for Turkey. Tonight’s playoff first leg against Galatasaray offers immediate redemption. Spalletti stressed breaking the hosts’ “first line of pressure” inside RAMS Park, a venue famed for deafening hostility. Midfielder Weston McKennie, fresh from two assists in Milan, echoed the mindset: “We want to win because we are Juventus … I know their fans create an incredible atmosphere, but chaos is what I thrive on”. Key selection calls hover over Khephren Thuram’s fitness and whether Emil Holm, impressive off the bench versus Inter, starts at right-back. Home-grown forward Kenan Yildiz could be Juve’s secret weapon; the Turkish international’s introduction might temper local hostility while adding spark to an attack missing injured Dusan Vlahović. Galatasaray, meanwhile, boast Victor Osimhen up front and a perfect home European record this season, but have leaked goals from set-pieces—an area Juve mined twice at San Siro. Expect Spalletti to target aerial deliveries to Bremer and Danilo while urging McKennie and Locatelli to dictate tempo. Beyond qualification stakes, the tie carries reputation repair. Juve’s social feeds overflowed with #Kalulu hashtags and slow-motion clips of Alessandro Bastoni’s alleged simulation, but UEFA’s VAR rules do allow review of second yellows—meaning any repeat incident in Istanbul can be overturned on-field. That procedural contrast is fuelling fan optimism that Europe, not domestic corridors, will give Juventus a fair stage. A positive result tonight could reset the season’s trajectory: victory would calm fury over San Siro, re-energise the top-four push, and underline Spalletti’s claim that “these games can be a turning point for anyone.” For a club built on turning adversity into silverware, there could be no better script.