Overview
After a period of decline at the end of last season, when they only won 5 points in the last 5 matches, Juventus could not break into the top 4 of Serie A and missed the opportunity to participate in the Champions League.
Coach Luciano Spalletti was appointed in the middle of an unsuccessful season, but then avoided the risk of being sacked and having his contract renewed. However, Juventus started the new season not really smoothly.
After successively defeating Frosinone and Parma, Juventus needed an equalizer in the final minutes to avoid losing to AC Milan at home. After that, Spalletti's team continued to receive a shock when losing to Sassuolo.
Juventus twice equalized and rushed to find victory, but let Sassuolo exploit the gap in the final minutes. Vasilije Adzic, a player currently on loan from Juventus, scored the decisive goal in the 90+4 minute, causing the Turin team to suffer a defeat.
With two European championships, Juventus has a wealth of experience in UEFA tournaments. Spalletti is also knowledgeable about the Europa League as he has coached Zenit St Petersburg, Roma, Inter Milan and Napoli in this tournament. In 18 group stage matches, he only suffered 2 defeats.
On the opposite side, NEC has a more modest history of participating in European tournaments. This is only the fourth time the Dutch club has participated in the continental arena and also the first time in 17 years.
Under the guidance of Dick Schreuder, NEC surprised when finishing third in the Eredivisie last season, thereby winning the right to participate in the Champions League qualifiers.
NEC defeated Olympiacos in the first qualifying round and was only one round away from the Champions League group stage. However, they later lost to Bodo/Glimt in the play-offs.
The Dutch team lost with a total score of 1-6, including a 1-3 home defeat and 0-3 in the second leg in Norway. However, the relegation to play in the Europa League is still a consolation for NEC.
NEC's performance in the domestic league is also unstable. They won all 2 of their first away matches but only won 1 point in the next 2 home matches. Last week, NEC continued to suffer a heavy 0-3 defeat to newly promoted Cambuur.
Personnel situation
Due to the injury crisis appearing early, Luciano Spalletti will have to calculate how to allocate forces between the arenas. Therefore, Juventus is likely to rotate the squad in this match.
The home team does not have the services of Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Juan Cabal, Jeremie Boga, Jeff Ekhator and captain Manuel Locatelli. Locatelli just underwent knee surgery and may have to be out of action until next year.
On NEC's side, Kaj Sierhuis is likely to be arranged to play as a striker because key striker Bryan Linssen is being treated for an injury.
NEC also does not have Ahmetcan Kaplan, Deveron Fonville and goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz. Crettaz must serve a suspension after receiving a red card in the Champions League play-off match against Bodo/Glimt.
Expected lineup:
Grabara, Celik, Lucumi, Gatti, Cambiaso, Sarr, Koopmeiners, Zhegrova, Gonzalez, Alajbegovic, Woltemade.
Polster, Sandler, Storm, Bras, Tahaui, Lebreton, Nejasmic, Bischoff, Tadic, Chery, Serhuis.
The match between Juventus and NEC Nijmegen takes place at 2:00 AM on September 18 (Vietnam time).
