Juventus kicked off their UEFA Europa League campaign in resounding fashion on Matchday 1 of the League Phase, dismantling NEC Nijmegen 5-0 at the Allianz Stadium. Coming off a disappointing setback against Sassuolo, Luciano Spalletti’s side answered any lingering questions with a dominant display, recording one of the club’s largest victories in European competition. For the visitors, returning to European competition for the first time in 18 years, the loss proved historic for all the wrong reasons, marking NEC’s heaviest defeat in UEFA history by surpassing previous 3-0 losses against Bodø/Glimt and other European opposition. Juventus, meanwhile, matched their fifth-largest win margin in UEFA-recognized competitions, trailing only three 7-0 triumphs and a 6-0 rout.
The host side exerted control early despite a brief moment of physical drama in the 15th minute when Bryan Linssen slapped the back of Federico Gatti’s head, prompting a tense confrontation from the defender that ended without further card discipline. Nico González opened the scoring by capitalizing on an error from goalkeeper Nikolas Polster before earning a second-half penalty for the third goal. González also registered two tackles on tracking-back duties. Debutant Kerim Alajbegović doubled the lead in brilliant fashion, lashing a strike into the net from the top of the box. Alajbegović completed all 16 of his pass attempts while co-leading the team with two successful dribbles. Zeki Çelik also found the scoresheet with a run into space for an easy goal, adding two tackles and two interceptions defensively despite completing just over three-quarters of his pass attempts.
Full debutant Pape Matar Sarr, currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, produced a commanding 90-minute display in midfield. Sarr completed 98.1 percent of his passes, brought energy to the press, and initiated the sequence for Alajbegović’s goal by releasing Weston McKennie. Spalletti didn’t hold back praise for Sarr after the match, noting that the midfielder did many things well. Fifteen minutes after the halftime break, Spalletti made a tactical triple substitution, bringing on Bremer, Teun Koopmeiners, and Francisco Conceição for McKennie, Douglas Luiz, and González. The structural adjustment saw Pierre Kalulu slide out to right wing-back, Çelik cross over to the left flank, and Bremer occupy central defense, before Randal Kolo Muani later replaced Alajbegović.
Reflecting on the performance, Spalletti expressed satisfaction with how his players addressed recent adversity. The manager noted that the team went out onto the pitch with a clear head, turning the doubts that follow defeats into decisions to be made. Spalletti emphasized the necessity for cohesion and strength at this stage, commending the squad for making the right decision to alter how the match unfolded. González shared similar sentiments, stressing how vital the result was for team morale following tough training sessions. The forward noted that he’s settling in well thanks to the faith shown by his coach and teammates, adding that it’s crucial for strikers to score goals as the long season unfolds.
The victory provided a complete reset for a squad that effectively neutralized a side featuring familiar European figures like Dušan Tadić. With depth options like Kamil Grabara, Guglielmo Vicario, Jhon Lucumí, Nick Woltemade, and Amin Sarr filling out the squad list, the Bianconeri established a firm foundation for their European ambitions. With three points secured and strikers finding the net, Juventus turn their focus toward maintaining this standard as the League Phase progresses.
