Juventus travel to Balaídos looking to turn the page after their disappointing finish in Cagliari, with Nick Woltemade expected to return to the starting side for the second round of the Europa League against Celta Vigo. Luciano Spalletti sees the German forward as both a rotation choice and a possible answer during a demanding league-and-cup spell.
Woltemade handed a chance in Vigo
Spalletti is ready to bring Woltemade back into the XI on Thursday evening, trusting the 198cm striker to offer more than one type of threat. The Juventus coach has suggested that the forward can operate as a conventional centre-forward or make late arrivals from deeper positions without attracting immediate attention.
The decision comes amid a crowded calendar, but it is also influenced by the player’s record at this point of the year. Twelve months ago, Woltemade enjoyed his most productive October, scoring five times for club and country.
- He scored against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on 1 October.
- He then found the net in Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest on 5 October and Brighton on 18 October.
- His first Germany goal came against Northern Ireland on 13 October.
- He added another strike against Tottenham in the League Cup on 29 October.
Four of those goals came for Newcastle and one for Germany, meaning October accounted for roughly a third of his overall goals during the 2025-26 campaign.
A late Juventus arrival still seeking momentum
Woltemade joined Juventus on 1 September, the final day of the transfer window, arriving from Newcastle on a free loan. His Newcastle move from Stuttgart had been worth €70 million plus bonuses, but his early months in Turin have brought limited playing time.
So far, the German has made five appearances for Juventus, totalling 161 minutes. His only goal came from the penalty spot against NEC in the Europa League.
That makes the match in Vigo a significant moment rather than merely another opportunity for squad rotation. Juventus need a response after Cagliari, while Spalletti will hope that the forward’s old October rhythm can reappear as the European campaign begins to take shape.
