Juventus arrive in Vigo with an early-season question still hanging over Nick Woltemade. The German forward has had only 191 minutes in black and white, and just one start, but Thursday’s Europa League tie already offers him a chance to change the tone around his first months at the club.
The coach and the club
Luciano Spalletti has made clear that his confidence in Randal Kolo Muani is intact, and the same patience is required with Woltemade. Juventus need solutions now, yet the coach’s task is to find an attacking arrangement that brings the best from both forwards over the full course of the season.
Woltemade’s continental debut against NEC appeared to offer a useful beginning. Juventus’ attack found its rhythm in a comfortable victory and the former Newcastle player scored from the penalty spot. That remains his only goal for the club, however, and the expected lift has not followed in subsequent matches.
- Against Atalanta, Woltemade was unable to build on his European goal.
- At Cagliari, he missed a close-range headed chance after Kolo Muani had struck the crossbar from near the goal.
- During the international break, his Germany call-up under new coach Jurgen Klopp brought selection but not relief: a missed close-range opportunity against Serbia prompted further criticism.
There is no case for final assessments after such limited playing time, but Juventus cannot wait indefinitely for their new forward to settle. Vigo is therefore a significant evening, even in mid-October.
A partnership to develop
The most encouraging indication came during the final half-hour in Cagliari, when Juventus used Woltemade and Kolo Muani together. With the German alongside him, Kolo Muani had more room to operate and found a sharper influence on the match. The alteration, aided by Lucio’s intervention, helped create the conditions for Juventus to equalise.
That spell raised the possibility of a more regular two-striker approach rather than merely a late response when Juventus are chasing a result or trying to disturb a stalemate. The club must decide whether the heavier attack can become a recognised option rather than an emergency measure.
Spalletti’s resources make the issue more pressing. Woltemade and Kolo Muani are his only specialist centre-forward options, even if neither fits a conventional definition of the role. Rotating them and managing their energy will require care across league and European commitments.
Nico Gonzalez provides another route. His ability to fill every attacking position allows him to operate as a second striker, as he did in the latter part of the first half at Cagliari. Thoughts may eventually turn to the January market, but the immediate priority is to restore Woltemade’s confidence and contribution.
Vigo as the next test
Woltemade is not a traditional penalty-box forward, but Juventus believe his physical presence, technical quality and capacity to link the lines can become important assets. His goals, and his ability to connect the midfield with the attack, are qualities the club need to see more consistently.
For now, the Europa League provides the next stage of that process. A productive night in Vigo would not settle the wider debate, but it could give Woltemade and Juventus the beginning they have been waiting for.
