Juventus drew 2-2 with Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday, a result overshadowed by Nick Woltemade's performance and a piece of club history, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The German forward converted the penalty that made it 2-2 and, in doing so, became only the third Juventus player to score in each of his first three European appearances for the club. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the other two are Darko Kovacevic in 1999 and Roberto Baggio in 1990.
The match was played in Turin, and the report places it on the evening before the newspaper's Friday edition. Juventus had taken a 1-0 lead through a goal set up by Woltemade, but Rennes responded and went ahead 2-1 before the late penalty levelled the score.
Why it matters
The dropped points leave Juventus without a win, but the bigger story for the club is the shape of its attack. Woltemade arrived from Newcastle and has been used mostly as a central striker, yet against Rennes he played behind the front line in a 3-4-1-2 and looked more comfortable there. La Gazzetta dello Sport describes him as a "false ten" — a tall player whose link play matters more than his presence in the box.
The record itself is a marker of how quickly he has settled. Scoring in three consecutive European games is rare at Juventus, and the two names he joins are among the most celebrated forwards in the club's history. The comparison is statistical rather than stylistic, but it underlines the significance of the start he has made.
A different role, and a different partner
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani started together for the first time, having previously shared the pitch for 160 minutes across seven substitute appearances. In those earlier spells it was largely the Frenchman who impressed, scoring three goals. The switch to a two-man attack changed the balance: Kolo Muani ran in behind while Woltemade dropped to connect play.
The newspaper's numbers support the idea that the pairing works. Juventus have now scored seven goals with both on the field at the same time, at a rate of one every 23 minutes, compared with eleven goals at one every 59 minutes when only one of the two is playing. Woltemade's individual figures from the Rennes game were also full: 47 touches, 24 completed passes, two long balls, one cross, six shots, two chances created and 11 duels won from 18, including four of five in the air. His through ball sent Zeki Çelik away to score the opening goal.
Woltemade was direct about the partnership when speaking after the match, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. He said his understanding with Kolo Muani is improving, that the Frenchman is a strong player who can score and create space for others, and that this helps him. He added that he is not the coach but that it is clear two forwards prevent a defence from focusing on one player, and that this is an opportunity for the team.
He also revealed how the penalty came about, saying he asked Kolo Muani for the ball and was given permission to take it. La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that a goal-line deflection by Cresswell denied him a second goal.
Mixed reviews elsewhere
Other Italian outlets saw the same match differently in places. La Stampa's player ratings praised Woltemade but named Federico Gatti as the worst performer on the night. Sportmediaset rated Woltemade and Çelik as meeting the standard of the game, while describing Kolo Muani and Gatti as having a difficult evening. Tuttosport focused on the incident that led to Rennes' second goal, reporting that Douglas Luiz went to ground in the area after contact with the ball and that a penalty was awarded, producing the 1-2 scoreline. These accounts come from the respective outlets and are consistent with the broader picture of a Juventus side that created chances but conceded twice at home.
Woltemade's own assessment was upbeat. He said the team has the right energy and plenty of quality players, and that results will turn around, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The draw keeps attention on how Luciano Spalletti sets up his front line. The 3-4-1-2 gave Woltemade the freedom to drop deep and link play, and the numbers from the Rennes game suggest the coach has a reason to keep the two forwards together. Whether that becomes the default shape is the question to watch, along with whether Woltemade's scoring run in Europe continues.
