Juventus had to settle for a 2-2 draw away against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening: Despite a game-changing performance from Francisco Conceicao, the Bianconeri were pegged bac...
Juventus had to settle for a 2-2 draw away against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening: Despite a game-changing performance from Francisco Conceicao, the Bianconeri were pegged back in the final minute by former loanee Renato Veiga.
Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring in Spain. Federico Gatti – with a bicycle kick – and half-time sub Conceicao put Juventus in front in the second half, only for Veiga to find the equaliser in the 90th minute.
You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Here are the player ratings from an end-to-end affair at the Estadi de la Ceràmica
Villarreal 1-0 Juventus: Player ratings
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – OCTOBER 01: Players of Juventus pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match against Villarreal CF at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 01, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Juventus: Perin 6; Kalulu 5.5, Gatti 7, Kelly 6; Cambiaso 5 (Rugani n/a), McKennie 5.5, Locatelli 6.5, Cabal 4.5 (J.Mario 6); Koopmeiners 4.5 (Conceicao 7.5), Yildiz 6.5 (Adzic n/a); David 5 (Vlahovic n/a).
Best Juventus player: Conceicao 7.5 – The Portugal international came on at the interval for Teun Koopmeiners, who had next to no impact during the first half, and completely changed the game. He won the throw-in that led to Federico Gatti’s bicycle kick, scored the goal that put Juventus into the lead, and should have had an assist to his name had Jonathan David been able to find the target from five yards out.
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – OCTOBER 01: Francisco Conceicao celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 01, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Worst Juventus player: Cabal and Koopmeiners 4.5 – An evening to forget for the Colombian in Spain. Nicolas Pepe had his number from the off, beat him on pace numerous times, got the Juventus wing-back booked and almost won a penalty off him. Then, Cabal’s hamstring went 15 minutes in. The early booking meant that Igor Tudor might have brought him off early, anyway. Koopmeiners was also taken off at half-time after after having little to no impact in one of the attacking roles alongside Kenan Yildiz.
Coach: Igor Tudor 6 – Until the final few minutes, this was a game of two halves. Juventus tried to press Villarreal in the first half, but the Yellow Submarine were often able to play around it. Juventus, particularly after the introduction of Conceicao, were a much improved side in the second half, but conceding from a corner in the last minute left the head coach raging during his post-match interview.
Villarreal ratings
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – OCTOBER 01: Georges Mikautadze of Villarreal CF celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 01, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Tenas 6; Mourino 6, Veiga 7, Marin 5, Pedraza 6.5; Gueye 6.5, Parejo 5.5, Comesana 6; Pepe 7, Mikautadze 7, Buchanan 6.
Category: General Sports
