Randal Kolo Muani scored a stoppage-time winner as Juventus came from behind to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Estadio Balaidos, keeping their perfect Europa League record intact.
The Bianconeri arrived at the top of the Europa League table after a 5-0 win over NEC, but their Serie A form had been disappointing, with 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 unavailable. Celta Vigo lost their opener to Omonia Nicosia and were missing Borja Iglesias, Pablo Duran, Jones El-Abdellaoui, Carl Starfelt and Miguel Roman.
A history of dramatic meetings
The last time these sides met, Celta Vigo won 4-0 at home in March 2000 in the UEFA Cup Round of 16, overturning a 1-0 first-leg defeat. Antonio Conte and Paolo Montero were both sent off in the first half of that match.
Celta strike first
Willot Swedberg headed an early effort straight at Guglielmo Vicario. Celta then broke the deadlock with a well-worked team goal, moving the ball from right to left before Swedberg laid it off for Hugo Alvarez, who tapped in at the back post in the 18th minute.
Juventus struggled to create clear chances in the first half. Teun Koopmeiners headed straight at the goalkeeper, and Pierre Kalulu failed to control a pull-back from 10 yards. Koopmeiners also accidentally got in the way of a Kerim Alajbegovic strike, while Nick Woltemade blasted over after letting a long ball bounce in the box.
Woltemade levels after the restart
Woltemade saw his effort charged down at the near post straight after the restart. Radu then flew to push a Francisco Conceicao strike over the bar, and the Portugal international fired another attempt straight at him from the resulting corner.
Juventus eventually drew level in the 58th minute. Koopmeiners whipped in a cross from the left, which was clumsily chested down by Marcos Alonso, and the ball fell perfectly for Woltemade to sweep in from 12 yards.
Celta continued to threaten on the counter-attack. Rueda only hit the side-netting from a Jutgla slide-rule pass, and Kalulu got back to block Jutgla. Pape Malang Sarr failed to make the most of another poor Alonso clearance, and Nico Gonzalez twisted and turned in the box before bending his left-foot finish inches wide.
Kolo Muani completes the turnaround
Juventus turned the game around in added time. Andrea Cambiaso swung 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.
The late winner sealed a 2-1 victory and maintained Juventus’s unbeaten start in the Europa League.