Juventus will take on NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League at 02:00 on September 18, in what promises to be an intriguing matchup. The Italian giants are currently navigating a challenging phase, having failed to establish a consistent winning strategy this season.

Juventus has not been convincing in their performances, often resembling the struggles of Inter Milan under coach Luciano Spalletti. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, they have struggled to convert these into goals. Most of their scoring has occurred late in matches, typically in the second half when opponents are fatigued and more prone to errors.

Coach Spalletti has been relying on players like F. Conceicao and Alajbegovic, who are energetic wingers but often resort to crossing the ball into the box. This tactic may not fully exploit the capabilities of Kolo Muani, their French striker, whose strengths do not align with the current playing style. Overall, the quality of Juventus's gameplay has not improved significantly since the previous season.

On the other side, NEC Nijmegen is coming off a setback, having been relegated to the Europa League after a defeat to Bodo Glimt in the Champions League playoff. This marks only the fifth time in the club's history that they have participated in European competition, and their first since the 2008/09 season. However, NEC should not be underestimated, as they finished third in the Dutch league last season, ahead of notable teams like Ajax and Twente.

The historical context of this match is interesting, as Juventus and NEC Nijmegen have never faced each other before. Juventus will have a full squad available, while NEC will be missing several key players due to injuries, including Fonville, Kaplan, Mor, and Schuur. Their first-choice goalkeeper, Crettaz, is also unavailable due to suspension and injury.

The expected lineups for the match are as follows:

• Juventus (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumí, Celik; Douglas Luiz, Koopmeiners; F. Conceicao, Nico Gonzalez, Alajbegovic; Kolo Muani.
• NEC Nijmegen (3-4-2-1): Polster; Storm, Sandler, Kabar; Tahaui, Nejasmic, Geiger, Bischoff; Tadic, Chery; Sierhuis.

Recent form indicates that Juventus has only secured one win in their last eight official matches, defeating Parma 2-0. In contrast, NEC Nijmegen has performed well in their last seven matches, winning six times against stronger opponents.

With the match approaching, it is anticipated that Juventus will face significant challenges despite their superior reputation. The likelihood of late goals remains high, as both teams have shown a tendency to score in the final minutes of games. A prediction for the final score is Juventus 2-1 NEC Nijmegen.