· 2 min readIn this Juventus vs Rennes match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Juventus came into the third matchday of the Europa League after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Lazio, at a time when their wins weren’t always convincing and eighth place in Serie A wasn’t good enough. Rennes also needed a response after losing 4-3 to Paris FC, despite Lepaul scoring three penalties.
Juventus made the better start and took the lead in the fifth minute. Woltemade dropped deep to receive the ball and played Çelik through in behind, between the centre-back and the full-back. The Turkish defender entered the box and shot towards the near post, leaving Samba with no chance.
Rennes didn’t take long to respond. In the 15th minute, Nagida beat his opponent down the left and crossed to the far post, where Bryan Reynolds nodded the ball down for Mousa Tamari to finish from close range. The equaliser was deserved after a positive start from the French side, who already had more possession and didn’t seem intimidated by the atmosphere.
From there, the game picked up pace. Gatti forced an extraordinary save from Samba with a dangerous header, and McKennie also tested the goalkeeper after a cross from Koopmeiners. Rennes responded with an attempt from Nagida, which Vicario dealt with comfortably. There was space, chances and danger at both ends.
In the 40th minute, the most controversial moment of the first half arrived. Following a corner, Nagida’s shot struck Douglas Luiz, who was on the ground and had seemingly stretched out his arms to block the ball. The referee awarded a penalty in a highly questionable decision. Boulaye Dia converted in the 43rd minute, sending Vicario the wrong way to complete the turnaround. Rennes weren’t completely dominating, but they had created more danger and went into half-time ahead.
Spalletti brought on Kalulu at half-time, taking off Çelik, but Juventus continued to struggle to take control. In the 59th minute, the manager took a bigger risk, replacing Gatti with Nicolás González. The change had an immediate impact: in the 65th minute, the Argentine won an aerial duel following a free-kick, and the ball clearly struck Reynolds’s raised arm. This time, the penalty looked indisputable.
Woltemade stepped up in the 67th minute and drove a low shot straight down the middle to make it 2-2. Juventus were back in the game, but the match remained wide open. Woltemade then saw a dangerous shot blocked by Cresswell, while the Rennes centre-back wasted an incredible opportunity in the 73rd minute, missing his header and making contact with the ball with his waist instead. Vicario was grateful.
In the closing stages, both teams went looking for a winner. In the 88th minute, Lucumí scored after a deflection inside the box, but VAR confirmed he was offside and ruled out the goal. Deep into stoppage time, Juventus turned up the pressure and Woltemade shot again from close range, but Cresswell was there once more to block the attempt.
Post-match
The 2-2 ultimately reflects a game in which neither team managed to impose themselves over the full 90 minutes. For the Italians, there was a good response, but also the feeling that there’s still a lot to put right.
