Juve opens Europa League campaign with 5-0 demolition of NEC Nijmegen
The Juventus began its UEFA Europa League season with a commanding 5-0 victory over Dutch side NEC Nijmegen at Allianz Stadium in Torino, as five different players found the net in a match that manager Luciano Spalletti described as a turning point after recent league struggles.
The result, which puts the bianconeri top of their group after the first round of matches, was built on an early goal and sustained pressure against a defence that offered little resistance.
Goals from new faces signal fresh start
Nicolás González opened the scoring after just nine minutes, latching onto a long ball from goalkeeper Kamil Grabara and capitalising on a goalkeeping error by NEC's Polster to tap into an empty net. The assist marked Grabara's competitive debut for the Turin club.
The Polish international, signed to reinforce the position, made three saves to keep a clean sheet and impressed with his distribution, completing 63% of his long passes.
Kerim Alajbegović doubled the lead in the 24th minute, finishing a move created by Pape Matar Sarr and Weston McKennie. At 18, the midfielder became the youngest Juventus scorer in European competition in the club's history.
Nick Woltemade added the third from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after González was brought down in the box. The German striker, who had already debuted in Serie A earlier this month, claimed his first goal for the club.
Second-half substitutes complete the rout
Spalletti made three changes at the break, introducing Bremer, Teun Koopmeiners and Francisco Conceição. The tactical shift maintained pressure on the Dutch visitors, who managed just three shots on target across the 90 minutes.
Zeki Çelik scored his first Juventus goal in the 75th minute, converting a low cross from Randal Kolo Muani. The France international, who had faced criticism for his early-season form, then added his own name to the scoresheet seven minutes later, rounding the goalkeeper to seal the five-goal margin.
The match statistics reflected Juventus's dominance: an Expected Goals tally of 4.14 compared to NEC's 0.76, with 21 touches in the opposition penalty area against the visitors' 13.
Confidence restored before Atalanta test
Spalletti, speaking after the match, praised his players' mental approach, saying they had shown a "lucid head" and taken "right decisions" to convert pre-match doubts into a convincing performance. The manager had warned before kick-off that NEC, averaging two goals per game in their domestic league, posed a genuine threat with their inverted wingers and pressing style.
The defensive discipline that had been questioned after a 3-2 defeat to Sassuolo in Serie A held firm. The back line of Federico Gatti and Kevin Lucumí, protected by Sarr and Douglas Luiz in midfield, limited NEC's space despite the visitors having spells of possession.
What changes for supporters
Season ticket holders will see the team return to Allianz Stadium on Sunday, when Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta visit in Serie A. Kick-off is scheduled for the usual afternoon slot, with tickets available through the club's official portal.
The Europa League campaign continues with away and home fixtures in October, with group stage dates already confirmed on UEFA's website. Juventus will aim to carry this momentum into a league season where they currently sit outside the European qualification places.
