Juventus came from behind to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Balaídos on Thursday night, with Randal Kolo Muani’s stoppage-time header completing a comeback after Nick Woltemade’s equaliser. The win leaves Spalletti’s side with a perfect record after two games in the Europa League. Here’s how every Juventus player rated in Vigo.
Spalletti made six changes to the side that drew at Cagliari and lined up in a 3-4-2-1, but his team struggled badly in the first half. Celta scored from their first real chance, with Hugo Álvarez finishing from close range after a slick move and an assist from William Swedberg. It was the first goal Juve had conceded in this season’s competition. Koopmeiners missed a tap-in at the back post, and Woltemade shot high from a one-on-one, after Vicario had played him in with a long ball. The second half was far more convincing, and Conceição twice forced Radu into saves early in the half. Juve levelled on 58 minutes when Marcos Alonso chested Koopmeiners’ cross straight into Woltemade’s path and the German volleyed home. Nico González then came close with a curling effort that flashed just wide, before Douglas Luiz switched play to Cambiaso, whose perfect cross was met by Kolo Muani for the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. Conceição was reportedly frustrated at being substituted, though he has since denied any argument with staff.
Juventus
Vicario: Had little chance with Álvarez’s close-range finish, but steadied after the break and kept Celta at bay as the hosts pushed for a second. 6.5/10
Kalulu: Offered a constant threat from the right, delivering the cross that led to Koopmeiners’ big miss and another that produced a dangerous header. 6.5/10
Gatti: Made a vital sliding tackle early in the second half to stop a dangerous Celta break, before making way after 70 minutes. 6.5/10
Kelly: Booked for a clumsy challenge to stop a Celta counter and replaced soon after. 5.5/10
McKennie: Worked hard in midfield but didn’t have a major influence on a game where Juve struggled to get forward in the first half. 6.0/10
Koopmeiners: Wasted the best chance of the first half by scuffing a tap-in, but redeemed himself with the cross that Woltemade finished for the equaliser. Spalletti was critical of him after the game. 5.5/10
Sarr: A tidy presence in the middle of the pitch, though he struggled to control a game in which Juve were slow to react off the ball. 6.0/10
Cambiaso: Provided the perfect cross for Kolo Muani’s winner in stoppage time, the standout contribution from a wing-back who stayed involved throughout. 7.0/10
Conceição: Gave away possession for a first-half counter-attack but was Juve’s most direct attacker after the break, with two shots saved by Radu, before being withdrawn after 64 minutes. 5.5/10
Alajbegović: Struggled to make his mark in a Juve side lacking creativity in the final third, and was replaced by Kolo Muani after 64 minutes. 5.5/10
⭐Woltemade: Skied a one-on-one effort in the first half but made amends by volleying in the equaliser after Marcos Alonso’s blunder, and kept going until the final whistle. 7.0/10
Spalletti: His side were slow in the first half and he was critical of their sluggish transitions, but his changes injected life into the team and brought a late winner. 6.5/10
Substitutions
Nico González: Added drive after replacing Conceição, and nearly produced a stunning individual goal, going past two defenders before seeing his curler skim the post. 6.5/10
⭐Kolo Muani: Scored his second goal in as many games, rising to meet Cambiaso’s cross in stoppage time to win it for Juve. 8.0/10
Bremer: Introduced alongside Lucumì to shore up the back line as Juve chased the game, and helped them see out a nervy finish. 6.0/10
Lucumì: Booked on his first action after coming on, but did his job in a frantic closing stretch. 5.5/10
Douglas Luiz: Spalletti’s final change, and made an immediate impact with the switch of play that created the winning goal. 6.5/10
