Juventus Settles for a Draw With Rennes as Late Offside Ruling Denies 3-2 Victory
“Ci sono rimasto male, perché lui ha tutto il tempo di scegliere cosa fare. Sbaglia il gesto e non c’è nessuno che gli dà fastidio,” Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti told Sky Sport regarding the disallowed goal that cost his side a win. The UEFA Europa League fixture at the Allianz Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw after a dramatic finale saw a late strike by Jhon Lucumì disallowed by the officiating crew led by Danish referee Morten Krogh.
The match began with early momentum for the hosts as Zeki Çelik opened the scoring in the opening minutes. However, the French visitors bounced back before halftime to secure a 2-1 lead. In the second half, Juventus fought back to equalize at 2-2 through a penalty converted by Nick Woltemade, setting the stage for late stoppage-time drama when Lucumì found the back of the net, only for VAR and the referee to rule the effort out for offside. Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport reported in its match analysis (La Gazzetta dello Sport) that Lucumì was no longer in an offside position when the decisive play developed, concluding that the goal should not have been disallowed.
Spalletti Voices Frustration Over Officiating and Team’s Fragility
The disallowed winner left the Juventus technical area seething. Speaking to Sky Sport (Tuttosport), Spalletti praised referee Morten Krogh’s overall handling of the match (ANSA) but took strong issue with the crucial late decision. “L’arbitro è stato bravo, molto bravo. Un po’ meno bravo nella scelta di questo episodio,” the coach remarked, adding that the incident left him perplexed because the defending player had ample time to handle the situation without pressure from any Juventus attacker.
Beyond the refereeing controversy, Spalletti admitted that deep-seated tactical issues continue to plague his squad. Addressing reporters in his post-match press conference (Tuttosport), he analyzed his team’s tendency to drop deep under pressure: “Questo è un problemetto di fondo che viene da lontano, non ci si sente a nostro agio a prendere campo.” Despite expressing satisfaction with the team’s attitude and fighting spirit in the second half, the manager conceded that his side still lacks the finishing edge required to secure consistent victories, declaring, “Continuo a non dormire queste notti qui, se non vinco le partite non sono felice.”
Player Reactions Highlight Bitter Regret After Late Stoppage Drama
Inside the Juventus dressing room, the mood was one of acute disappointment. Midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario both voiced their frustration over the missed opportunity to claim all three points in front of home supporters at the Allianz Stadium (Sportmediaset). Koopmeiners pointed to the team’s strong display after the break, stating that the Bianconeri deserved to win the second 45 minutes and expressing regret over how the third goal was handled. Vicario echoed those sentiments, describing the draw as a very bitter result given the volume of chances created after the interval.
Meanwhile, the frustration extended well beyond the pitch. As reported by Virgilio Sport (Virgilio Sport), sections of the Juventus fanbase voiced heavy criticism on social media regarding Spalletti’s tactical choices and substitutions during the European fixture. Supporters openly questioned player utilization and renewed calls for former manager Antonio Conte, though club directors maintained their backing of the current technical staff as preparations turned toward the next domestic fixture.
Juventus Prepares for Lecce While Çelik Recovers
Juventus faces a rapid turnaround with little time to dwell on the European stalemate. The club must immediately pivot to domestic league action, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario noting in post-match comments (Sportmediaset) that the squad has another match in two days to recover and refocus on their upcoming opponent, Lecce. Additionally, medical staff will monitor the physical condition of Zeki Çelik, who exited the Rennes match after experiencing muscle hardening (Tuttosport), with Spalletti noting that a quick recovery for the next fixture appears challenging.
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