Juventus began their European campaign in spectacular fashion. The Bianconeri thrashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0 at the Allianz Stadium, delivering exactly the response Luciano Spalletti had demanded following the painful Serie A defeat to Sassuolo.
Juventus effectively put the game to bed in the first half. Nico González opened the scoring, Kerim Alajbegović added the second, before Nick Woltemade converted from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 before the break. There was no let-up after half-time.
Spalletti's side continued to attack, with Zeki Çelik making it 4-0 after an assist from Randal Kolo Muani, before Juventus added a fifth to complete an emphatic 5-0 victory.
After everything that had been said in recent days about the crisis, the pressure and the coach's future, Juventus delivered their response exactly where Spalletti wanted it – on the pitch.
GRABARA ASSISTS ON HIS DEBUT – NICO GONZÁLEZ OPENS THE FLOODGATES
Juventus did not have to wait long to show the direction they wanted the game to take.
Already in the 9th minute, the Bianconeri took the lead, and the move began with the man making his first appearance in goal for Juventus – Kamil Grabara. The Polish goalkeeper sent a long ball towards Nico González, while the NEC goalkeeper rushed well outside his area in an attempt to intercept the pass. He failed.
González took advantage and found the empty net to make it 1-0, while Grabara began his Juventus debut in almost unbelievable fashion – with an assist. Spalletti's big decision to change his goalkeeper immediately paid off.
ALAJBEGOVIĆ MAKES IT 2-0 – MCKENNIE SETS HIM UP
Juventus had no intention of stopping after taking an early lead. In the 24th minute, another blow arrived for the Dutch side. This time, Kerim Alajbegović was at the centre of the action, another player who was handed a major vote of confidence by Spalletti from the first minute.
Weston McKennie created the opportunity, and Alajbegović finished it off to make it 2-0.
It was a goal that gave Juventus even more freedom and completely changed the course of the match. By the midway point of the first half, NEC were already chasing a two-goal deficit, while the Bianconeri were finding more and more space.
WOLTEMADE FROM THE SPOT – A GOAL ON HIS FIRST START!
The evening became even better for Spalletti's new-look Juventus in the 35th minute. Juventus were awarded a penalty and Nick Woltemade stepped up.
The German striker made no mistake. Woltemade converted the penalty to make it 3-0, marking his first Juventus start with a goal.
Spalletti had decided to give him the nod up front, leaving Kolo Muani on the bench. Woltemade responded in the best possible way. After just 35 minutes, Juventus held a commanding 3-0 lead.
THREE GOALS IN 35 MINUTES – JUVENTUS SETTLE THE MATCH BEFORE HALF-TIME
If Spalletti had demanded a reaction from his players following the defeat to Sassuolo, he could hardly have asked for a more convincing response during the opening 45 minutes.
Juventus were more clinical, more aggressive and, perhaps most importantly, took advantage of the opportunities that came their way.
González in the 9th minute, Alajbegović in the 24th and Woltemade in the 35th effectively settled the contest before half-time.
SPALLETTI REFUSED TO LET JUVENTUS RELAX – THE BIANCONERI KEPT ATTACKING
With the scoreboard showing 3-0, Juventus could have lowered the tempo in the second half and simply protected their huge advantage.
The Bianconeri, however, wanted more. Spalletti began turning to his bench, with Randal Kolo Muani among those introduced after starting the match as a substitute. His arrival soon produced another tangible contribution. The Frenchman may not have started the game, but he had no intention of ending the European night without leaving his mark.
ÇELIK MAKES IT 4-0 – KOLO MUANI COMES ON AND PROVIDES THE ASSIST
The fourth goal showed that Juventus had no intention of stopping.
Randal Kolo Muani provided the assist for Zeki Çelik, with the Turkish international finishing the move to extend the advantage to a huge 4-0. It was also a particularly important moment for Kolo Muani. Spalletti had left him on the bench and handed Woltemade the opportunity from the start, but the Frenchman showed after coming on that he was determined to fight for his place and made a direct contribution to another Juventus goal.
FIFTH GOAL COMPLETES A TOTAL SHOW OF FORCE
Even four goals were not enough for Juventus. The Bianconeri added a fifth goal before the final whistle, turning their European opener into a complete show of force in front of their supporters. A match that carried considerable pressure following the defeat to Sassuolo became an evening that could provide a major boost to the team's confidence. Five goals scored and none conceded represented exactly the kind of result Spalletti needed ahead of another crucial period of the season.
GRABARA KEEPS A CLEAN SHEET ON HIS DEBUT
It was not only the Juventus attack that enjoyed a memorable evening. Kamil Grabara made his Bianconeri debut and immediately finished the match with a clean sheet.Spalletti sprung a surprise before kick-off by selecting the Polish goalkeeper ahead of Guglielmo Vicario. Grabara ultimately enjoyed an almost perfect evening – a clean sheet and an assist for Juventus' opening goal.
SPALLETTI CHANGED THE TEAM – AND GOT HIS RESPONSE
Spalletti made several changes against NEC, but this time the rotations did not disrupt Juventus. Quite the opposite. Grabara was handed his debut, Pape Matar Sarr and Woltemade were given opportunities from the first minute, Gatti returned to the starting XI, while Alajbegović was also rewarded with the coach's trust. The response was almost perfect!
Grabara provided an assist and kept a clean sheet, Alajbegović scored, Woltemade found the net, while Kolo Muani came off the bench and provided an assist.
FROM “WE MUST SHOW THAT WE ARE JUVENTUS” TO FIVE GOALS IN TURIN
Ahead of the match, Spalletti had insisted that three points were not the only thing he wanted to see. He demanded character, a reaction and a Juventus side capable of showing its identity once again. Following the painful defeat to Sassuolo, the Bianconeri had been under pressure, while the Italian media had openly discussed the importance of the matches against NEC and Atalanta for Spalletti. The response was 5-0.
Of course, NEC are not an opponent against whom definitive conclusions about Juventus' entire season can be drawn, but the manner in which the Bianconeri approached their European opener represents an important first step.
JUVENTUS SEND A MESSAGE IN EUROPE – ATALANTA ARE NEXT
Juventus therefore began their European campaign in the best possible fashion. Five goals, a clean sheet and several players making direct contributions to the victory gave Spalletti exactly what he needed following a turbulent few days. Now, however, another test awaits.Juventus turn their attention back to Serie A and the match against Atalanta, which will provide another indication of whether the emphatic victory over NEC was simply one memorable European night or the beginning of a significant turnaround in the season. One thing is certain – after everything that had been said following the Sassuolo defeat, Juventus responded on the pitch. And they did it with five goals.
JUVENTUS – NEC 5-0
JUVENTUS: Grabara; Kalulu, Gatti, Lucumí, Çelik; Douglas Luiz (60' Koopmeiners), Sarr; Nico González (60' Conceição), McKennie (60' Bremer), Alajbegović (71' Kolo Muani); Woltemade (83' Owusu).
NEC: Polster; Sandler (67' Schuurs), Nejašmić, Čery, Tadić, Lebreton (78' Kers), Storm, Linssen (78' Nuytinck), Kabar (46' Monteiro), Thomas, Bischoff (32' Geiger).
Goals: 9' Nico González, 24' Alajbegović, 35' Woltemade (penalty), 75' Çelik, 82' Kolo Muani.
FINO ALLA FINE
