Juventus Routs NEC 5-0 in Europa League Opener After Serie A Setback

Juventus defeated NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in their Europa League League Phase opener on September 17, 2026, bouncing back from a weekend Serie A loss to Sassuolo. Goals from Nicolás González, Kerim Alajbegović, Nick Woltemade, Zeki Çelik, and Randal Kolo Muani propelled the Italian side to the top of the Europa League table after matchday one.

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Europa League League Phase match
Juventus defeated NEC Nijmegen 5-0
Juventus response to prior 2-3 loss to Sassuolo
Polster's mistake led to González's opening goal
Alajbegović scored long-range strike

🔥⚪⚫ ¡JUVENTUS ARRASA EN EUROPA! GOLEADA 5-0 EN SU DEBUT EN LA EUROPA LEAGUE #juventus #europaleague
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Juventus responded decisively to a weekend defeat by thrashing NEC Nijmegen 5-0 on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in their Europa League League Phase opener at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. The emphatic victory came just days after a 2-3 loss to Sassuolo in Serie A, where Juventus conceded late to extend their winless run to two matches.

The Italian side dominated from the start, with Nicolás González opening the scoring in the fourth minute after NEC goalkeeper Nikolas Polster rushed out of his penalty area and completely missed the ball on a clearance, leaving González with a simple tap-in. Kerim Alajbegović extended the lead with a long-range strike before halftime, and Nick Woltemade converted a penalty after Almugera Kabar fouled González to make it 3-0 at the interval—a tally Juventus had not achieved in the opening 45 minutes of any match this season.

In the final quarter of the second half, Zeki Çelik added a fourth goal from a cut-back by Randal Kolo Muani, who then rounded goalkeeper Polster to tap in the fifth and seal the 5-0 scoreline. Coach Luciano Spalletti credited the team's mental approach, stating the players "went out onto the pitch with a clear head, turning the doubts that follow defeat into decisions to be made."

The comprehensive performance positioned Juventus at the top of the Europa League table after the first matchday of the competition's new League Phase format. NEC, managed by Dick Schreuder, arrived in Turin without a win in their last three matches and suffered a damaging European debut, with midfielder Clement Bischoff forced off with a hamstring injury during the first half.

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#UEFA #soccer #5-0 victory #Nicolás González #Europa League #Luciano Spalletti #Nick Woltemade #5-0 #European football #Juventus

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Why This Matters

Juventus secured a top position in the Europa League's new League Phase format after matchday one, signaling a competitive response to domestic setback. The 5-0 margin reflects squad depth and tactical execution; their placement at the summit after round one positions them favorably for knockout progression. NEC's opening defeat and injury to midfielder Bischoff impact their Group Phase prospects and squad availability in weeks ahead.

Timeline & Sources

Sep 14, 2026

Wire

Juventus loses 2-3 to Sassuolo in Serie A

Sep 15, 2026

Wire

Juventus loses 2-3 to Sassuolo in Serie A (weekend)

Sep 18, 2026

Wire

Randal Kolo Muani scores (5-0 final)

Sep 18, 2026

Wire

Full-time: Juventus 5 NEC Nijmegen 0

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