Juventus consider starting Kolo Muani and Woltemade together against Lazio. Here’s who would be left out
After Juventus’ good performance in the final half-hour in Vigo, with both strikers on the pitch, Spalletti is considering fielding them together from the first minute.
With each passing hour, Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade look more likely to start together against Lazio on Sunday evening. Both Juventus forwards were on the pitch in the closing stages as the Old Lady came from behind to win away to Celta Vigo in the Europa League. Both scored and improved as the game went on, transforming the team.
Woltemade, like almost the whole team, struggled in the first half. He returned after the break with a different attitude and equalised in the 58th minute, scoring his second goal for Juve after his penalty against NEC, also in the Europa League. Kolo Muani replaced the ineffective Alajbegovic in the 64th minute, giving the team, and Woltemade himself, an extra gear. Woltemade moved better and with more purpose before the Frenchman scored the winner in the 92nd minute.
What Woltemade thinks
After the match, Woltemade said: "I like playing with Kolo Muani. We did really well today and he scored his second consecutive goal. Capello told Spalletti before the match that Kolo Muani and I should play together? Yes, but I'm not the manager: I trust him. I think if we keep scoring goals, that can only help us."
Spalletti has the idea in mind regardless of Capello's suggestions. Juventus' strong final half-hour against Celta could also convince the manager to start both players against Lazio in Sunday's late fixture in the seventh round of Serie A. Nothing is certain yet, but Spalletti is considering it, and we'll see what he says at his pre-match press conference.
Who is left out?
If Kolo Muani and Woltemade both start, who could miss out? Compared with the line-up in Vigo, either Conceicao or Alajbegovic could drop to the bench. If Spalletti needs to replace either Kolo Muani or Woltemade during the match, he would have Nico Gonzalez and Boga as options. Boga trained with the group today and could return to the squad after more than a month.
