Randal Kolo Muani scored in the 91st minute to complete a comeback as Juventus beat Celta Vigo 2-1 on Spanish soil, keeping their perfect Europa League record intact. Nick Woltemade had equalised for Juventus in the 58th minute after Celta had taken the lead.
Juventus arrived at Estadio Balaidos at the top of the Europa League table after a 5-0 win over NEC. Their domestic form had been less convincing, with a 1-1 draw at Cagliari in Serie A. The Bianconeri also faced a long injury list, with Kenan Yildiz, Jeremie Boga, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Jeff Ekhator, Kamil Grabara and Arek Milik all unavailable. Celta Vigo lost their opening match to Omonia Nicosia and were without Borja Iglesias, Pablo Duran, Jones El-Abdellaoui, Carl Starfelt and Miguel Roman.
The last meeting between the clubs was an extraordinary encounter in March 2000, when Celta won 4-0 at home in the UEFA Cup Round of 16. That result overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat, and both Antonio Conte and Paolo Montero were sent off in the first half.
Hugo Alvarez Puts Celta Ahead
Juventus almost fell behind early. Willot Swedberg headed an early chance straight at Guglielmo Vicario, and Celta 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 in the 18th minute.
Juventus struggled to create clear openings in the first half. Teun Koopmeiners headed straight at the goalkeeper, and Pierre Kalulu failed to control a pull-back from 10 yards. Woltemade blasted over after letting a long ball bounce in the box. Celta also threatened on the counter-attack, with Rueda hitting the side-netting from a slide-rule pass by Jutgla before Kalulu got back to block.
Woltemade and Kolo Muani Turn It Around
Woltemade saw an effort charged down at the near post straight after the restart, but he made amends shortly after. Marcos Alonso chested down a Koopmeiners cross from the left in a clumsy attempt to clear, and the ball fell perfectly for Woltemade, who swept it in from 12 yards in the 58th minute.
Celta continued to threaten. Radu flew to push a Francisco Conceicao strike over the bar, and Nico Gonzalez twisted and turned in the box before bending a left-footed finish inches wide. Juventus still looked the more likely to win it, and their pressure paid off deep into added time. Andrea Cambiaso whipped in a cross from the left, and Randal Kolo Muani got between defenders to nod in at the back post from point-blank range in the 91st minute.
Final score: Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus
Goals: Hugo Alvarez 18′ (Celta Vigo), Nick Woltemade 58′ (Juventus), Randal Kolo Muani 91′ (Juventus)