Juventus Dominates NEC 5–0 in Europa League Clash

NEC’s Europa League return lasted just a few minutes before turning into a nightmare. By the time the final whistle went in Turin, Dick Schreuder’s side had been taken apart, 5–0, by a Juventus team that barely had to leave second gear.

Early reprieve, then punishment

The tone was set almost immediately.

In the third minute, Federico Gatti thought he had opened the scoring, only for his effort to be ruled out for a foul on stand‑in goalkeeper Nikolas Polster. For NEC, it felt like a let‑off. It wasn’t. It was a warning.

Moments later, Juventus struck properly. Nicolás González burst in behind, Polster charged out and completely misjudged the situation, flying past the ball and leaving the forward with an open goal. González rolled it in for 1–0, and NEC’s composure rolled away with it.

With Gonzalo Crettaz suspended, Polster had been handed a daunting European debut. In front of him, Schreuder had gone with experience: Tjaronn Chery, Dušan Tadić and Bryan Linssen all in the XI, the sort of names meant to steady a team on a big night. On the Juventus bench, Teun Koopmeiners waited his turn. He could afford to.

Alajbegovic ignites, NEC unravel

Once Juventus had their lead, they started to squeeze.

Polster briefly held the line, reacting sharply to keep out a Nick Woltemade header. It was a good save, the kind that can anchor a nervous keeper. Then Kerim Alajbegovic stepped up from distance and ripped the game away from NEC.

The midfielder collected the ball in space and unleashed a ferocious strike from range, the shot flying beyond Polster for 2–0. No keeper stops that. NEC’s defensive shape, already fraying, now looked shredded.

The pressure didn’t relent. Almugera Kabar, already stretched at the back, mistimed a challenge on González in the box. Penalty. Woltemade took responsibility, sent Polster the wrong way, and it was 3–0 before half-time felt close.

Between those two Juventus goals, NEC’s night worsened physically as well as on the scoreboard. Clement Bischoff pulled up with a hamstring problem and had to go off, Dennis Geiger summoned from the bench earlier than planned. Any idea of control disappeared with him.

Flickers of resistance

For all the damage, NEC did not completely fold before the interval.

Noé Lebreton forced Kamil Grabara into action, Kabar also tested the Juventus keeper, and Linssen lashed a presentable chance over the bar. They were half-chances, glimpses rather than sustained pressure, but at least they carried a hint of defiance.

At 3–0 down in Turin, those moments matter. They were also NEC’s last real look at a comeback.

Second half drift, late collapse

The restart brought a lull. Juventus protected what they had, circulating the ball, managing energy, happy to let the clock drain away. NEC, chasing shadows for long spells, only threatened through a speculative effort from Geiger from distance.

For a while, it looked as if both teams had silently agreed on the scoreline.

Then the final quarter of an hour arrived, and with it the final blows.

Randal Kolo Muani, introduced to stretch a tiring NEC back line, did exactly that. He broke down the flank and cut the ball back with precision for Zeki Çelik, who arrived to sweep in the fourth. It was a simple goal, the product of sharp movement and a defence that had stopped believing.

Almost immediately, Kolo Muani claimed one of his own. Slipped through on goal, he rounded the onrushing Polster with ease and tapped into the empty net for 5–0. No drama, no fuss. Just another clean finish on a night when Juventus looked ruthless and NEC looked exposed.

The scoreline stayed there, mercifully for the visitors. The damage, though, was already deep.

NEC came to Turin hoping to announce themselves in Europe. They leave knowing exactly how far they still have to climb.