Relief for Nick Woltemade! DFB loser makes long-awaited debut at Juventus
Nick Woltemade finally scored his first Serie A goal in Juventus's league match at AC Fiorentina on Sunday evening.
In his ninth appearance in the competition, the Germany striker levelled at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.
A fine individual move from former Frankfurt player Randal Kolo Muani set up Woltemade's goal. The former Bremen and Stuttgart player finished Kolo Muani's pass from ten metres with a clever, clinical strike.
Juve had fallen behind early in Florence when Mateo Pellegrino scored from a corner in the fourth minute to put the hosts ahead. Woltemade and his team-mates were slow to start the second half too, and Alieu Njie restored Fiorentina's lead in the 54th minute.
Shortly afterwards, Woltemade looked dejected as he left the pitch. Edon Zhegrova replaced the 24-year-old German in the 57th minute. Juventus equalised again in the 66th minute, when centre-back Bremer headed in from a corner to make it 2-2.
Nick Woltemade left out of Germany squad after difficult start at Juventus
On loan from Newcastle United to Juventus since the beginning of September, Woltemade has endured a difficult start in Italy and often faces criticism. His mixed performances in recent weeks have also cost him his place in the Germany squad for now: national team coach Jürgen Klopp has not selected him for the upcoming November internationals in Serbia and against the Netherlands.
Klopp offered Woltemade encouragement, saying he was "on the right track. He lacks a little bit of outright goal threat. The development and continuation of play are there. And that is why, of course, no door is closed. It was a difficult decision for us, but sometimes form outweighs everything else," Klopp said.
Despite his wait for a Serie A goal, Woltemade had already scored several times for Juve in another competition. In the Europa League, the 14-cap Germany international has recorded three goals and two assists in four appearances so far this season.
