Woltemade Matches Baggio Record as Newspapers Praise Juventus Star After 2-2 Rennes Draw

FolioPitch.com – 23 October 2026 | Nick Woltemade produced a standout individual display in Juventus‘s 2-2 Europa League draw with Rennes at the Allianz Stadium on Thursday evening, prompting widespread Newspapers praise Woltemade after matching Baggio record in Juventus 2-2 Rennes across Italy’s leading sports dailies. The German forward provided the assist for the Bianconeri’s opener before converting a second-half penalty to rescue a point, and in doing so he equalled a feat previously achieved only by Roberto Baggio in 1990 and Darko Kovacevic in 1999: scoring in each of his first three European appearances for the club.

The collective performance was far from convincing, with Juventus forced to fight back from behind on home soil, but the scrutiny of the Italian press focused squarely on the 24-year-old’s contribution. La Gazzetta dello Sport argued that the match “showed off” Woltemade’s finest qualities, observing that he looked at “total ease” in the final third when deployed in his preferred role just behind an out-and-out centre-forward, Randal Kolo Muani. The positioning allowed him to link play, drift into pockets of space and arrive late in the box, and it was from that platform that he both created and scored.

The front page of Friday’s Corriere dello Sport declared that Woltemade had finally “stepped up” for Juventus, a pointed assessment given the club’s uneven start to the campaign. Tuttosport went further, suggesting the Newcastle loanee was the “only one who showed the right spirit” among the Juventus players on the pitch, a remark that implicitly criticised the intensity of his teammates. The consensus among the Newspapers praise Woltemade after matching Baggio record in Juventus 2-2 Rennes was that the German had seized his moment on a night when others around him faltered.

Woltemade’s European record now reads three goals and one assist since arriving on loan from Newcastle during the summer transfer window, with every single contribution coming in the Europa League. That contrast with his domestic fortunes is striking. Across five consecutive Serie A appearances he has been used exclusively from the bench and is still awaiting both his first start and his first goal involvement in the Italian top flight. The disparity raises an intriguing selection question for the coaching staff: whether to persist with a rotation that has so far shielded him in the league, or to hand him a starting berth on the back of his continental form.

The Baggio comparison carries considerable weight in Turin. Baggio, one of the most revered figures in Juventus history, set the original benchmark in 1990, while Kovacevic matched it nine years later. For Woltemade to join that company after just three European outings speaks to a capacity for decisive moments that the club’s supporters have been desperate to see. The statistics tell a simple story: whenever he has been involved in Europe, Juventus have found a route to goal through him.

Yet the broader picture remains complicated. A home draw against Rennes leaves the Bianconeri with work to do in the league phase, and the reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective control will concern the coaching staff. The Newspapers praise Woltemade after matching Baggio record in Juventus 2-2 Rennes reflects a recognition that, on this occasion, one player’s quality papered over the cracks of an otherwise laboured team display.

• European record: 3 goals and 1 assist in three Europa League matches
• Serie A record: 5 appearances, all as a substitute, no starts or goal contributions
• Record matched: Scored in each of his first three European games for Juventus, previously achieved only by Roberto Baggio (1990) and Darko Kovacevic (1999)
• Preferred role: Playing behind a traditional centre-forward, as he did alongside Randal Kolo Muani

The Italian media’s response also highlights a developing narrative around Woltemade’s adaptation. La Gazzetta’s emphasis on his comfort in the final third suggests that his best work comes when he is freed from the physical burden of leading the line alone, a tactical detail that could shape how he is used in the weeks ahead. Corriere dello Sport’s “stepped up” headline frames the performance as a coming-of-age moment, while Tuttosport’s praise of his spirit points to an attitude that has resonated with observers even amid the team’s struggles.

For Woltemade himself, the challenge is now to translate European excellence into domestic impact. The loan arrangement from Newcastle means his future remains a topic of speculation, and sustained performances in Serie A would strengthen both Juventus’s hand and his own bargaining position. The Newspapers praise Woltemade after matching Baggio record in Juventus 2-2 Rennes will only intensify the calls for him to be given a genuine run in the starting XI.

In conclusion, the draw with Rennes may not live long in the memory as a team performance, but it produced a defining night for Nick Woltemade. Matching a record held by Roberto Baggio and Darko Kovacevic places him in rare company, and the unanimous acclaim from Italy’s leading newspapers confirms that his contribution was the story of the evening. Whether this becomes a springboard to regular Serie A starts or remains an isolated European flourish will depend on the opportunities he is granted and how he takes them. For now, Juventus have a player who delivers on the continental stage, and the press have made clear they believe he deserves more.