Celta fell to Juventus on their first European night of the season at Abanca Balaídos. The Sky Blues had taken the lead through Hugo Álvarez, but the game slipped away from them in stoppage time.
Claudio Giráldez’s side started with confidence and were rewarded in the 18th minute, when Hugo Álvarez made it 1-0. From that point on, Celta defended their lead with discipline, backed by a reliable Andrei Radu between the posts, to go into half-time ahead.
After the break, Spalletti’s side stepped up their game and Woltemade equalised in the 58th minute. However, Celta refused to back down, and Giráldez made changes to freshen up the attack and find another goal. Hope gradually faded as the minutes passed and the score remained level. But just as a draw seemed inevitable, Kolo Muani struck in stoppage time to make it 1-2 and shatter the Sky Blues’ hopes. A cruel ending for a Celta side that kept the contest alive for much of the game and fought until the very last second.
Celta now turn their attention back to LaLiga EA Sports. Next Sunday, 18 October, at 4:15 pm, Celta will host Deportivo Alavés at Abanca Balaídos, determined to claim all three points in front of their fans.
MATCH DETAILS:
1 – Celta: Andrei Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda (Álvaro Núñez, 85′), Ilaix Moriba, Aleix Febas (Hugo Burcio, 75′), Sergio Carreira; Hugo Álvarez (Hugo González, 85′), Ferran Jutglà (Iago Aspas, 75′) and Williot Swedberg (Couhaib Driouech, 62′).
2 – Juventus: Guglielmo Vicario; Pierre Kalulu, Federico Gatti (Gleison Bremer, 70′), Lloyd Kelly (Jhon Lucumí, 70′); Weston McKennie, Sarr, Teun Koopmeiners (Douglas Luiz, 82′), Andrea Cambiaso; Francisco Conceição (Nicolás González, 64′), Kerim Alajbegović (Randal Kolo Muani, 64′) and Nick Woltemade.
Goals: 1-0, 18′: Hugo Álvarez; 1-1, 58′: Woltemade; 1-2, 90+2′: Kolo Muani.
Referee: Sander van der Eijk (Netherlands). Booked Williot Swedberg (39′) and Ilaix Moriba (84′) for Celta, and Lloyd Kelly (54′) and Jhon Lucumí (72′) for Juventus.
Attendance: Match corresponding to Matchday 2 of the UEFA Europa League league phase, played at Abanca Balaídos in front of 21,805 spectators.
