Kolo Muani's injury-time goal gives Juventus a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo in Europa League

Late winner settles it at Balaídos

Celta Vigo lost 1-2 to Juventus at Balaídos in their second Europa League league-phase match, a defeat that leaves the Galician side with two losses after they opened the competition by falling to Omonia in Nicosia. Randal Kolo Muani scored the decisive goal in stoppage time, finishing at close range from a cross that reached him in the box. Celta had led for most of the match, a result that El País links to a March 2000 meeting between the two clubs, when Celta won 4-0. The home side defended in a compact block and hit back quickly whenever Juventus left gaps behind their midfield.

First half: Celta ahead through Álvarez

Juventus struggled to build play before the interval, and Fanpage describes them as confused and unable to react to Celta's pressure. Hugo Álvarez gave Celta the lead just after the 15th minute, pouncing after a scramble in the box. Woltemade had Juventus' clearest chance of the half, but his left-footed shot went high. Koopmeiners and Cambiaso were short of their usual influence, and McKennie was closely marked throughout. El País counts one Juventus shot on target in the first half, and Celta went in ahead at the break.

Second half: equaliser and substitutions

Juventus equalised through Woltemade after Marcos Alonso tried to control a cross with his chest and let the ball run to the German striker. Koopmeiners had delivered that cross from the left. Luciano Spalletti responded by bringing on Kolo Muani and Nico González in place of Alajbegovic and Conceição, a change that gave Juventus more attacking options. Celta also made substitutions that freshened their legs, and Aspas came on with just enough energy but enough quality to tilt the game, according to El País. A shot by Rueda in the area went wide, and a long-range effort from Sarr was pushed away by a diving Radu, the Celta goalkeeper.

1. Just after the 15th minuteHugo Álvarez gives Celta Vigo the lead
2. Second halfWoltemade equalises for Juventus after a Marcos Alonso error
3. Injury timeKolo Muani scores the winner for Juventus

Celta's game plan and the home crowd

Claudio Giráldez's young Celta side defended with discipline and threatened to counterattack whenever space opened up, which El País says they did from their first real chance to string passes together in the opposition half. The Balaídos crowd was full of young supporters who had grown up hearing about the 2000 match, and the stadium held its breath when Nico González curled a left-footed shot towards goal. Celta finished the match the stronger side in the closing stages, and the article describes the visitors as an opponent that did little to win the game before the late goal. The contrast between that old memory and the reality of a sluggish, unconvincing Juventus side was the story of the first 70 minutes.

Injury time and what comes next

Kolo Muani's winner came in stoppage time, when Juventus pressed for a result after a flurry of crosses into the Celta area. El País judged the victory an undeserved one for Juventus, given how little the Turin side had produced in the second half. Celta are now on two defeats, and their next match is in Glasgow against Celtic in the week of 19 October 2026. Celtic also come into that game with two losses. Juventus are on six points in the standings after two matches, and Spalletti's side will look to build on a second-half comeback that owed as much to Celta's errors as to its own play.