Randal Kolo Muani came off the bench to head a stoppage-time winner as Juventus came from behind to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 at Balaidos on Thursday night, making it two wins from two in the Europa League league phase and sending the Italians to the top of the standings.
Celta had looked set for a famous night. The hosts led from the 18th minute, held that advantage until nearly the hour, and were still level deep into stoppage time before Andrea Cambiaso delivered the cross that decided the game.
Alvarez Gives Celta The Perfect Start
Hugo Alvarez put Celta ahead in the 18th minute, finishing a move that cut through Juventus and gave Balaidos early belief. The home side carried the lead into half-time, defending in numbers and breaking with pace whenever Juventus over-committed.
For long spells Juventus had the ball without hurting Celta. Luciano Spalletti's side struggled to turn possession into clear chances against a compact block, and the longer the first half wore on, the more this looked like a night when one goal might be enough for the Spanish side.
Woltemade Levels, Kolo Muani Finishes It
The equaliser finally arrived in the 58th minute. Nick Woltemade reacted first to a defensive error and finished from close range to make it 1-1, shifting the momentum entirely. Juventus pushed harder after that, and Nico Gonzalez bent a late effort inches wide of the far post as Celta began to drop deeper.
Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Cambiaso floated a cross in from the left and substitute Kolo Muani got between two defenders at the back post to nod in from close range. As Reuters noted in its round-up of the night, that late header edged Juventus past Celta in Spain, while Football Italia's report of the comeback highlighted how the bench changed the game for Spalletti.
It was a cruel end for Celta, who remain without a point after two games, following their opening defeat away to Omonia. Juventus, by contrast, followed their 5-0 opening win over NEC with another three points.
So What Does It Mean?
Juventus now sit on six points from two games and top the Europa League standings, a position that puts them firmly on course for a direct place in the last 16 if they keep this pace. Next up in Europe they host Rennes on 22 October, a game that could open a real gap at the top.
For Celta the maths is already uncomfortable. Two defeats from two leaves them playing catch-up, and their next European trip, away to Celtic on 22 October, already feels close to must-win. A performance like this one deserved something, but at this level deserving is not a points column.
Elsewhere on a busy Europa night, there were statement wins across the continent — including Milan's 4-0 win in Salzburg, covered in our Milan report, and Lyon's 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
Beyond the Final Whistle: this is exactly the kind of away win that changes how a European campaign feels. Juventus were not fluent, they were not even particularly good for an hour, but they stayed in the game, trusted their bench and stole it at the death. Teams that win like this in October are usually still playing European football in the spring — and Celta will know they let a season-shaping point slip through their fingers.
Can Juventus go all the way in the Europa League this season, or will nights like this eventually catch up with them? Have your say in the comments.
