NEC failed to score in both Champions League qualifiers on the road. Juventus are their toughest test yet, the Italian club to get back to winning ways in Torino.
Key Stats
- Juventus have won to nil in 2 of their last 4 matches.
- Juventus' Edon Zhegrova scored 2 goals in his last match.
- NEC have lost 3-0 in 2 of their last 3 away matches.
- NEC have failed to score in their last 3 away matches (UEFA competitions).
HTH
This will be the first match between Juventus and NEC Nijmegen.
Juventus Suffer First Defeat
Juventus had a strong preseason which continued in Serie A, a comfortable 1-0 win at Frosinone followed by a 2-0 victory against Parma, holding both teams under 0.41 xG.
The Old Lady dominated AC Milan but needed Federico Gatti’s 91st minute goal to earn a 1-1 draw. They ended the contest with 14-3 shots and 1.59-0.11 xG.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are coming off a 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo. Edon Zhegrova came off the bench to score two late equalisers but it wasn’t enough, conceding in the 93rd minute.
Spalletti took some responsibility for the defeat: “It hurts a lot because the guys deservedly turned the game around. We lost our balance, and that’s something you can’t do.”
“The players tried to go and win it. I was the one who pushed them to go and win this game, and perhaps they followed what I asked a little too literally, because in the end we had too many players pushing into the Sassuolo box.”
Nijmegen Finding it Hard to Win
NEC have won just two of their 10 matches this season, both on the road in the Eredivisie. They were victories against clubs in the relegation zone, 4-1 at Willem II and 3-1 at PEC Zwolle.
Nijmegen were outclassed in the Champions League qualifiers, beaten 6-1 on aggregate by Bodo/Glimt.
Dick Schreuder’s side come into this clash after a 3-0 defeat at Cambuur, managing only one shot on target.
Predicted Lineups & Team News
Juventus (4-2-3-1) Guglielmo Vicario; Pierre Kalulu, Lloyd Kelly, Federico Gatti, Zeki Celik; Douglas Luiz, Pape Matar Sarr; Edon Zhegrova, Nick Woltemade, Kerim Alajbegovic; Randal Kolo Muani
Spalletti has a lengthy injury list and will surely use this opportunity to make some changes. Expect Edon Zhegrova to start after scoring two goals at Sassuolo.
NEC Nijmegen (3-4-3) Nikolas Polster; Tobias Storm, Philippe Sandler, Almugera Kabar; Adam Tahaui, Darko Nejasmic, Dennis Geiger, Clement Bischoff; Tjaronn Chery, Kaj Sierhuis, Noé Lebreton
Gonzalo Cretta injured his hamstring in Leeuwarden with Nikolas Polster to continue in goal. Dusan Tadic is a chance to start ahead of Noé Lebreton.