The Celta vs Juventus UEFA Europa League clash at the Estadio Abanca-Balaídos on Thursday night produced a dramatic stoppage-time twist, with Randal Kolo Muani’s 92nd-minute header sealing a 2-1 comeback victory for the Italian giants. The result keeps Juventus top of the Europa League table after two matchdays, while Celta Vigo slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in major European competition.
Celta stunned the visitors in the 18th minute when Williot Swedberg worked the ball across the box and teed up Hugo Alvarez for a simple close-range finish — just the hosts’ second shot of the match. Juventus, who had beaten NEC 5-0 in their opener, struggled to respond before the break, with Nick Woltemade blazing over from eight yards after a defensive gift. The Celta vs Juventus contest turned after half-time, though, as Luciano Spalletti’s side finally found their rhythm in Galicia.
Celta vs Juventus: how the comeback unfolded
Juventus came flying out of the blocks after the interval. Francisco Conceição twice went close, forcing smart saves from Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu, before the equaliser arrived in the 58th minute — and it came from a calamity. Celta captain Marcos Alonso attempted to chest a long ball back to his goalkeeper but instead presented it to Woltemade, who lashed home a close-range volley to make it 1-1.
Celta had chances to regain the lead. Javi Rueda fired into the side-netting and Nico Gonzalez curled agonisingly wide of the left post in the 88th minute, while the introduction of Iago Aspas — in the stands as a boyhood fan when Celta famously demolished Juventus 4-0 in the 1999/00 UEFA Cup — rallied the home supporters. The statistics told the story of Juventus’s second-half dominance: 22 shots to Celta’s nine, 1.7 expected goals to 1.02, and 46 touches in the opposition box to the hosts’ 17.
Celta vs Juventus: Kolo Muani’s stoppage-time winner
Just as the match appeared headed for a draw, Juventus conjured one final chance. Andrea Cambiaso delivered a cross into the box and substitute Kolo Muani headed the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Radu in the 92nd minute to snatch all three points. The French striker’s dramatic intervention completed the comeback and sparked wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti praised his side’s refusal to settle. “I saw a desire not to settle, but to go out and win the game, and we managed to do that with a straightforward move, executed correctly,” Spalletti said after the match. “We got the ball back into the box, played that through ball, and Kolo Muani was there at the right moment to finish it. In the end, we were rewarded both for our substitutions and for the team’s attitude on the pitch.”
What the Celta vs Juventus result means for the table
The Celta vs Juventus victory keeps the Italians top of the Europa League standings after two rounds, ahead of Bayer Leverkusen on goals scored, and extends their perfect start to the continental campaign. There was also a personal milestone on the night, with Pierre Kalulu making his 100th appearance for the Bianconeri.
The Celta vs Juventus rivalry has history. The most famous previous meeting came in the 1999/00 UEFA Cup, when Celta demolished Juventus 4-0 in the fourth round — a result still fondly remembered in Vigo, and one referenced on Thursday night when Aspas, who watched that tie as a boyhood fan in the stands, was introduced to rally the home crowd. A quarter of a century on, the dynamic has shifted: Juventus are rebuilding under Spalletti with a young, expensive squad, while Celta remain the underdogs punching up — and on this evidence, capable of troubling anyone on their night.
For Celta, the picture is bleaker. Having lost their opener 1-0 to Omonia Nicosia, the Galicians have now lost four straight matches in major European competition and sit pointless after two rounds. Spalletti, though, backed his team’s proactive approach despite the earlier tactical difficulties: “Taking risks is part and parcel of modern football. I like the lads’ attitude, they showed it again this evening.” Juventus will look to make it three wins from three when the league phase continues after this Celta vs Juventus triumph, while Celta must find a response quickly to keep their knockout hopes alive.