Juventus 5-0 NEC: Five scorers, three debuts in Europa League opener

Five Juventus players found the net in a 5–0 victory over NEC Nijmegen at Allianz Stadium on September 17, 2026, launching the club’s UEFA Europa League 2026/27 league phase with a commanding performance.

The opening goal arrived inside nine minutes following a defensive error. Kamil Grabara, making his Juventus debut, launched a long ball forward. NEC’s stand-in goalkeeper Nikolas Polster rushed from his area, misjudged the trajectory, and allowed Nico Gonzalez to round him before slotting into an unguarded net. Gonzalez’s strike marked Grabara’s first assist for the club.

Alajbegovic doubled the lead in the 24th minute. Weston McKennie advanced with the ball and squared it to the edge of the box, where the Bosnian midfielder struck low into the top corner — his first goal since joining Juventus in the summer transfer window. Ten minutes later, Almugera Kabar fouled Gonzalez inside the penalty area, and Nick Woltemade converted the resulting spot-kick, sending Polster the wrong way for his inaugural Juventus goal.

NEC’s possession failed to yield meaningful pressure

Despite the lopsided scoreline, NEC registered seven shots by halftime — two more than Juventus — and held greater possession, reaching 67 per cent during the first 15 minutes after the interval. Ayodele Thomas emerged as NEC’s most threatening attacker, testing Grabara twice and beating Federico Gatti to deliver from the left flank. Dennis Geiger, introduced early following Clement Bischoff’s injury, sent an effort narrowly over the bar.

Grabara remained untroubled throughout, and Juventus’ back line held firm even as manager Luciano Spalletti made multiple substitutions. Gleison Bremer replaced McKennie in the 60th minute as the American managed his return from injury. Francisco Conceicao and Teun Koopmeiners entered in the 63rd minute for Gonzalez and the booked Douglas Luiz.

Perr Schuurs’ substitution in the 67th minute drew boos from the home supporters, the former Torino defender’s appearance provoking visible disapproval among Bianconeri fans.

Randal Kolo Muani came on for Alajbegovic and scored within four minutes of his introduction, beating Tobias Storm and cutting back for Zeki Celik to tap in Juventus’ fourth goal — the third debut goal of the match. Kolo Muani then added his own in the 82nd minute, released by Jhon Lucumi, replicating Gonzalez’s opener after Polster again charged out of goal.

Conceicao tested the keeper from distance late on, and Augusto Owusu received a brief cameo in stoppage time. By then, the result was long settled. For Spalletti — whose managerial position had faced public scrutiny ahead of kickoff and who received explicit backing from sporting director Frederic Massara just hours before the match — the emphatic win delivered immediate tactical and political relief.