Juventus completed a remarkable comeback to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 on Spanish soil, with Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani on target, keeping their perfect Europa League record intact.
The Bianconeri had sat top of the Europa League table after a 5-0 hammering of NEC, but their Serie A form has been disappointing, including a 1-1 draw at Cagliari. Their injury crisis also continued, with Kenan Yildiz, Jeremie Boga, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Jeff Ekhator, Kamil Grabara and Arek Milik all out of action. Celta Vigo lost their opener to Omonia Nicosia and were without Borja Iglesias, Pablo Duran, Jones El-Abdellaoui, Carl Starfelt and Miguel Roman.
The last time these sides met was an extraordinary 4-0 Celta Vigo home victory in March 2000 in the UEFA Cup Round of 16, which overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat. Both Antonio Conte and Paolo Montero were sent off in the first half of that tie.
Celta take the lead through a team move
Celta started the sharper side. An early header from Willot Swedberg went straight at Guglielmo Vicario, and the hosts soon broke the deadlock with a well-worked team goal. The move passed from right to left before Swedberg laid the ball off for Hugo Alvarez, who tapped in at the back post to put Celta ahead on 18 minutes.
Juventus struggled to create clear chances in the first half. Teun Koopmeiners headed straight at the goalkeeper, and then failed to control a Pierre Kalulu pull-back from 10 yards. Koopmeiners also got in the way of a Kerim Alajbegovic strike, and Woltemade blasted over after letting a long ball bounce in the box.
Woltemade levels and Kolo Muani completes the turnaround
Woltemade had an effort charged down at the near post straight after the restart, but he soon made the breakthrough count. Koopmeiners whipped a cross in from the left, and Marcos Alonso clumsily chested it down, setting up Woltemade to sweep home from 12 yards. The goal came on 58 minutes and levelled the score at 1-1.
Celta responded on the counter-attack. Rueda hit only the side-netting from a Jutgla slide-rule pass, and Kalulu got back to block Jutgla. Pape Malang Sarr failed to capitalise on another poor Alonso clearance, while Nico Gonzalez twisted and turned in the box before bending a left-foot finish inches wide.
Juventus found the decisive moment in added time. Andrea Cambiaso swung a cross in from the left, and Randal Kolo Muani got between defenders to nod in from point-blank range at the back post on 91 minutes.
Key goals
Hugo Alvarez 18 (C), Nick Woltemade 58 (J), Randal Kolo Muani 91 (J)
Reaction
Woltemade described it as his best game for Juventus and said he enjoys playing alongside Kolo Muani. Head coach Luciano Spalletti said Kolo Muani and Woltemade can play together but questioned where Alajbegovic would fit. Kolo Muani said Juventus are better with Woltemade on the pitch, as it gives him more freedom.