SOCCER
Woltemade Penalty Keeps Juventus Unbeaten in 2–2 Rennes Draw
Juventus recovered from a halftime deficit against Rennes but dropped its first points of the Europa League league phase.
Nick Woltemade’s second-half penalty earned Juventus a 2–2 draw with Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday, October 22, ending the Italian club’s perfect start to the league phase.
Juventus led through Zeki Çelik’s fifth-minute goal at Allianz Stadium in Turin. Mousa Al-Tamari equalized in the 15th minute before Boulaye Dia converted a 43rd-minute penalty to give Rennes a 2–1 halftime lead, according to the French club’s official match report.
Woltemade converted from the spot in the 67th minute after Bryan Reynolds was penalized for handball. Juventus had another goal disallowed for offside in the 88th minute. Rennes’ completed match center records the final score and both penalty decisions.
Juventus had won its first two league-phase matches, beating NEC Nijmegen 5–0 and Celta 2–1. The draw leaves Juventus unbeaten with seven points from three games. Rennes also remains unbeaten, taking its total to five points after an opening draw with Sturm Graz and a win over OFI Crete.
Both teams return to Europa League action on November 5. Juventus visits AZ Alkmaar, while Rennes hosts Olympiacos, according to UEFA’s league-phase schedule.
