Juventus have confirmed significant news following their recent Champions League exit, as up-and-coming defender Renato Veiga has suffered an injury to his right leg. The Portuguese international, on loan from Chelsea, picked up the injury to the tendon of the plantar gracilis during the match against PSV Eindhoven, which marked the end of Juventus's European campaign this season.
The injury occurred early on February 20, 2025, when Veiga was forced to pull up just ten minutes after kick-off at Philips Stadion. He was quickly substituted for Andrea Cambiaso, altering the dynamics of Juventus's defense at a pivotal moment. Diagnostics revealed the unfortunate extent of his injury, and Juventus's official statement mentioned, "Renato Veiga, who was substituted during the first half of Wednesday's match against PSV Eindhoven, underwent diagnostic tests at J|Medical this afternoon." Further examination confirmed the damage to his right leg tendon, indicating the young defender would miss at least two to three weeks of action.
Although the club did not specify exact recovery timings, Sky Sport Italia reported Veiga's injury is expected to keep him sidelined for some time. This absence is particularly concerning for Juventus, who heavily relied on his consistent performances throughout the season. The team had been on quite the roll, racking up four consecutive victories leading up to this decisive match, with Veiga featured prominently.
Juventus was coming off nice form when they faced off against PSV Eindhoven at home, winning the first leg 2-1. That momentum, coupled with Veiga’s strong contribution, had ignited hopes within the club and among fans for continued success. Unfortunately, facing off against the Dutch champions, Juventus struggled to maintain their grip on the match, especially without their defensive stalwart. PSV turned around the aggregate score, rambling to a surprising 3-1 victory, culminating in their 4-3 win overall.
The atmosphere at Philips Stadion turned electric as PSV clawed their way back from being down 2-1 on aggregate. Ivan Perisic opened the scoring for PSV, netting his sixth career goal against the Bianconeri. Timothy Weah soon equalized, and Ismael Saibari secured the lead for the home side. Despite Juventus's insistence on countering PSV's attacks, their defense floundered allowing veteran experience like Perisic to shine as the match progressed.
Veiga’s absence was distinctly felt during this turbulent match. Before going down, he had stayed injury-free and proved his worth by helping Juventus emerge victorious from last month's key matches. "Without Chelsea loanee Veiga, Andrea Cambiaso on his return from injury… Juve had been on a roll with four consecutive victories," emphasized reports, highlighting how the young defender's presence was key to Juventus's tactics.
The structural change at the heart of defense meant Juventus faced not only the psychological disadvantage of their newly thinned ranks but also the mounting pressure of the match. PSV, invigorated by their home crowd, capitalized on Juventus’s vulnerabilities after Veiga's departure.
With this injury blow, Juventus will now be without Veiga for their upcoming Serie A and Coppa Italia matches, including key fixtures like their clash against Cagliari and the quarterfinal showdown with Empoli. The 21-year-old had stepped up significantly to fill gaps left by other injuries, previously enabling the club to forge a partnership with Federico Gatti. This was especially notable since his predecessor, Gleison Bremer, is recovering from ACL surgery, which left Juventus scrambling for alternatives.
The current situation puts significant strain on Thiago Motta, Juventus's head coach, as he attempts to find the right personnel to maintain defensive solidity without the key anchor Veiga had become. Consequently, the Bianconeri will have to rely on their remaining options close on the heels of their recent European disappointment.
While the club and fans will undoubtedly miss Veiga's contributions on the pitch, there remains hope within the organization as they evaluate the best route for rehabilitation. The young defender's tenacity and skill unmistakably labeled him as the defensive 'lucky charm' of the recent streaks and fan enthusiasm for his future should remain high.
The path for Juventus now is one of resilience, having felt the costs of injuries both on and off the pitch. With Veiga's absence, the rest of the team must optimize every player’s potential to reclaim lost ground both domestically and regionally. The Champions League exit presents harsh realities, yet maintaining focus and spirit is imperative as the season progresses.