Juventus initiated their Europa League campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Dutch side NEC in the first match of the competition’s league phase. The convincing win at Allianz Stadium on Thursday evening marked a strong rebound for Massimiliano Spalletti’s side following a recent Serie A defeat against Sassuolo.
Early Goals Secure First-Half Lead
The Turin giants established a commanding lead early in the match, with Nico Gonzalez opening the scoring in the eighth minute. His goal, assisted by debutant goalkeeper Grabara, capitalised on an error from NEC goalkeeper Polster, who misjudged a long clearance. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus effectively sealed the game in just over half an hour.
Alajbegovic doubled Juventus’ lead in the 24th minute, firing into the top corner after an assist from Weston McKennie. Woltemade then converted a penalty in the 35th minute after Nico Gonzalez was fouled in the area by Kabar, marking the German’s first goal for the club. These early strikes ensured Juventus went into halftime with a 3-0 advantage.
Second-Half Dominance and Goal Debuts
The second half saw Juventus control the game, adding two more goals in the final stages. Celik scored the fourth goal in the 75th minute, converting from close range after Kolo Muani’s assist. Kolo Muani himself then completed the rout in the 82nd minute, taking advantage of another mistake by Polster to slot the ball into an empty net. These goals marked the first seasonal strikes for Celik and Kolo Muani, as noted by Corriere dello Sport.
Goalkeeper Grabara’s debut was noteworthy for his assist, while Weston McKennie wore the captain’s armband. Manager Spalletti implemented a 3-man defence and significant player rotation, including giving starts to Gatti, Sarr, and Woltemade, with Bremer, Koopmeiners, and Kolo Muani entering as substitutes. Douglas Luiz and Jamiro Monteiro received yellow cards during the match.
Looking Ahead for Juventus
While the 5-0 victory provided a confidence boost, La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested this European test might not be definitive in assessing Juventus’ recovery from their recent “mini-crisis” following the loss to Sassuolo. The Dutch side NEC’s “too bold attitude” and “tactical errors” were noted as factors making Juventus’ task easier. The true test for Spalletti’s squad will come in their upcoming Serie A fixture against Atalanta on Sunday afternoon.
This strong start in the Europa League adds to other recent developments for the club, including the renewal of significant partnerships, as previously reported in “Juventus Renews Partnership with Cygames Until 2027“.