Juventus begin their Europa League campaign against NEC Nijmegen with injuries, suspension concerns and Sunday’s league game against Atalanta already in view. Manuel Locatelli has undergone knee surgery and could be sidelined until next spring, while Juventus took just five points from their final five Serie A games last season. That makes this opener less routine than it should look on paper.
Juventus' squad problems before the opener
The blunt fact for Juventus is that Spalletti does not have a full deck to work with. Locatelli’s injury takes a player out of the middle of the pitch for the long term, and the schedule is awkward enough without it. Juventus were also beaten by a 94th-minute Vasilije Adzic winner for Sassuolo in last season’s run-in, a late setback that summed up how uneven their domestic form became.
Even so, the European side of the case is stronger than the domestic wobble. Juventus still finished 13th in the Champions League league phase last season with 13 points from 8 matches, which gives them a firmer European base than their Serie A finish of 6th suggests. Spalletti is also entering the competition for the fifth club he has managed in the Europa League, and he has only lost twice across 18 Europa League group fixtures.
That is the part of this preview that leans Juventus’ way. A rotated side may be needed, but the level has to stay high enough to avoid turning the night into a problem before Atalanta arrive.
NEC's rare European return
NEC's trip to Turin matters for them too. They are featuring in European competition for only the fourth time, and the first time in 17 years, which is a proper marker for the club even if the draw is unforgiving. Their route into Europe came through a third-place Eredivisie finish, then Champions League qualifying before Europa League entry.
The wider context is not flattering. NEC were well beaten 3-0 by newly promoted Cambuur in their last domestic outing, and their Champions League qualifying run ended with defeats away from home and in Nijmegen against Bodo/Glimt. Dick Schreuder has a side that can claim a rare European stage, but the task in front of them is still a major step up.
Juventus should still have enough to win this, even with the rotation question hanging over the game. The opener is shaped by what lies ahead in Serie A as much as what happens in Europe, and that is why Spalletti’s choices on Thursday matter before Atalanta on Sunday.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
