Juventus posted a resounding 5-0 win over NEC Nijmegen at the Allianz Stadium, in a match corresponding to the first matchday of the UEFA Europa League league phase. The Italian side settled the tie in the first half and padded the score in the second to collect three points and a crushing goal difference in their continental opener.
How the match went
Juventus set the terms from the start and didn't need much time to show it on the scoreboard. With a clear game plan of high pressing and quick circulation, the home side overwhelmed a NEC Nijmegen side that, despite having more possession (52% to 48%) and more total passes, couldn't translate that control into clear scoring chances.
The Dutch side's territorial dominance contrasted sharply with Italian efficiency: Juventus fired seven shots on target compared to just three for NEC, a gap that largely explains why the final result ended up so lopsided. The Turin club managed the tempo, struck at the right moments, and didn't drop the intensity even with changes to the starting lineup.
Goals and key moments
The match quickly tilted in Juventus's favor. In the 9th minute, Nico González opened the scoring to deliver the first blow. The lead grew to 2-0 in the 24th minute with a goal from Kerim Alajbegovic, leaving NEC on the ropes before the half-hour mark.
NEC suffered a setback in the 32nd minute with Clement Bischoff forced off through injury, replaced by Dennis Geiger. But the worst blow came in the 35th minute, when Nick Woltemade converted a penalty to make it 3-0 before the break, effectively sealing the outcome of the match in the first half.
With the game already decided, the second half brought more substitutions than surprises until the closing stretch. In the 75th minute, Zeki Çelik came on to score Juventus's fourth goal, and in the 82nd minute, Randal Kolo Muani, who had come on minutes earlier, rounded off the rout with the fifth goal, capping a perfect afternoon for the home side.
The numbers
The match statistics reflect a curious story: NEC Nijmegen outdid Juventus in possession (52% to 48%), completed passes (493 to 444) and corners (1 to 0), but all of that was overshadowed by their rivals' finishing. Total shots ended tied at 11 apiece for each side, though Juventus were far more precise with seven shots on target compared to three for the Dutch side.
The match also showed a marked imbalance in fouls, with 19 committed by NEC compared to 9 by Juventus, though that didn't translate into cards: just one yellow card per side, for Jamiro Monteiro on the visitors' side and for Douglas Luiz on the home side. Juventus also had one offside, while NEC registered none.
How the table stands
With this result, Juventus sits atop the overall standings with 3 points after one matchday, boasting a goal difference of +5, the best among all participating teams so far. They share the points lead with other sides such as Crystal Palace, Sparta Prague, Besiktas, Union Saint-Gilloise, Ferencvaros, Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen, all with perfect records in their opening fixture.
For NEC Nijmegen, the defeat leaves them at the bottom of the overall table, in 36th place, without points and with a goal difference of -5, the worst mark among the listed teams. The Dutch side will need to bounce back quickly if they hope to fight for a qualifying spot in the coming matchdays.
Our take
Our take is that Juventus left a very solid impression in their European debut of the season, not just because of the result but because of how they managed the match despite ceding possession. The ability to strike at key moments, combined with a defense that conceded nothing, are signs the Italian side will want to confirm in upcoming matchdays.
For NEC Nijmegen, beyond the psychological blow of a defeat of this magnitude, the possession and completed-passes numbers suggest the team didn't lack ideas to build play, but rather efficiency in the final third. Correcting that lack of finishing will be key for the Dutch side if they want to avoid the league phase turning into an uphill struggle.
Image: Golazo Scores · Spotted a mistake? Write to us and we'll fix it · Editorial policy
