Juventus move quickly from one assignment to the next. After beginning their Europa League campaign with five goals against NEC, Luciano Spalletti’s side travel to Vigo on Thursday for their second match in the opening phase, with little room for recovery or revision.
The decision
Spalletti will again have to work with a restricted group against Celta Vigo. None of Juventus’ injured players are expected to return for the trip to Spain: Kenan Yildiz, Manuel Locatelli, Jeremie Boga, Ekhator and Khephren Thuram remain unavailable.
Goalkeeper Neto is the exception within the wider squad picture, having completed the suspension that kept him out. Edon Zhegrova, who looked particularly lively after the interval in the previous outing, cannot be considered because he is not registered for the Europa League list.
Changes at the back are expected. Federico Gatti, unused from the bench in the league match, is in line to start as he looks to establish a greater role. Lloyd Kelly is also a possible selection after being left out of the Serie A side.
Further forward, Nick Woltemade could receive another opportunity. The German striker has yet to score in Serie A and did not make a major impact after coming on against Cagliari, but the European schedule may offer him another route into Spalletti’s plans.
Juventus showed their attacking depth in the 5-0 win over NEC, when Nico Gonzalez, Alajbegovic, Woltemade, Celik and Randal Kolo Muani all found the net. Vigo now presents a different test: a European evening away from home, with Spalletti required to balance ambition in the competition against an injury list that has not eased.
Sunday’s picture
The Cagliari match offered a reminder that squad management will shape Juventus’ autumn. Woltemade’s substitute appearance did not change his league record, while Gatti and Kelly were held back, leaving Thursday’s fixture as a possible opportunity for players on the margins to influence the next stage of the season.
