Juventus win at AZ as Kolo Muani stands out

Juventus left AZ Alkmaar with a 2-1 win in the Europa League first phase, and Randal Kolo Muani was the reason the result looked as comfortable as it did. He set up Teun Koopmeiners for the opener in the 19th minute, then scored himself in the 37th. Calciomercato.it gave him the best rating on the pitch, an 8.83, and the performance backed that up.

Kolo Muani's night

The numbers were as direct as the display. Kolo Muani finished with one goal and one assist, and his season return in the competition now reads four appearances, three goals and two assists. That is a tidy European run, but this was the first time he really took over a game for Juventus in the way fans have been waiting for.

Calciomercato.it's ratings desk called him the best player of the night, saying he was "reborn on the European night" and that he dragged Juve to the three points alongside Koopmeiners. That language fits the evidence on the pitch. He did the damage early, then gave Juventus the cushion they needed before AZ had any real chance to build momentum.

Kelly and AZ's late push

The other side of the evening was less flattering for Lloyd Kelly. Calciomercato.it said he made too many mistakes in build-up play and that AZ's goal came from one of them. His 6.62 rating was comfortably below Kolo Muani's mark, and the gap reflects how sharply the two performances diverged.

AZ did not go quietly. Mexx Meerdink pulled one back in the 88th minute, and the Dutch side kept pushing in the closing stages. Even so, Juventus had already done enough by then, with Kolo Muani's first-half impact setting the terms of the night at the AZ Alkmaar vs Juventus match.