Brimming with confidence after a huge Serie A win over Napoli, Juventus resume their UEFA Europa League campaign away to AZ Alkmaar. AFAS Stadion forms the backdrop for the first-ever meeting between the sides, with just a point separating them ahead of tonight's kickoff.
AZ Alkmaar's European journey this season was off to a slow start. Sunderland squeezed past Lee-Roy Echteld's team 1-0 on matchday one. However, they've since beaten Ararat-Armenia and Hapoel Beer-Sheva by an aggregate score of 6-1 to reduce the gap to the current top eight to a single point.
Despite their continental resurgence, back-to-back defeats to bitter Eredivisie rivals Ajax and Twente have derailed a feel-good factor. AZ failed to find the net in both losses and will be keen to bounce back here, knowing a win would see them leapfrog seventh-placed Juventus in the standings.
That could be easier said than done, given the visitors' impressive start to this season's competition. After a 5-0 thrashing of AZ's domestic rivals NEC Nijmegen on day one and a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Celta Vigo, Juventus dropped points for the first time last time out as Rennes held them to a 2-2 draw in Turin.
Still, Luciano Spalletti's men should take the field in high spirits after second-half goals from Kerim Alajbegovic and Jeremie Boga propelled them to a crucial 2-0 home win over Napoli last weekend. Spalletti is not out of the woods yet, as Juventus sit seventh in Serie A after ten matches, making this European escape a welcome distraction.
AZ Alkmaar
Recent domestic setbacks may have affected AZ's morale ahead of this clash, but they can draw confidence from their formidable home run in major European competitions. Echteld's men bring a jaw-dropping 17-game unbeaten home streak in continental action into this meeting (W14, D3) since their last such defeat in October 2023.
Perhaps surprisingly, given their modest European history, AZ have never lost to Italian opposition, securing four wins in five previous such fixtures (D1). Another upset could be on the cards on Thursday, as the hosts boast a decent home record this season (W4, D1, L1), including a 2-1 win over Hapoel in their only European outing here.
However, entertainment has been relatively sparse at the AFAS Stadion. Just one of AZ's last four home matches has produced over 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for another low-scoring contest. With that in mind, finding an early breakthrough could be off the essence, not least because two of AZ's three Europa League games this term have seen the winner keep a clean sheet.
Juventus
Despite their domestic struggles, Juventus have been firing on all cylinders in the Europa League, with only Benfica (10) eclipsing their nine-goal tally after the opening three rounds. In search of more good omens, the record-time Italian champions have won the second half in four consecutive European matches.
There's no reason to expect that trend to stop here, considering Juventus haven't lost any of their three previous Europa League encounters against Dutch opposition (W2, D1), conceding just once in that run. However, the Turin giants would be wise not to take anything for granted after winning just two of their last five away games (D1, L2).
Spalletti must address his side's defensive woes to cure Juventus' travel sickness. The Bianconeri registered just one shutout during that five-game stretch. Still, they've been exceptional on the continental stage lately, losing just one of their last ten European fixtures (W6, D3), while scoring multiple goals on eight occasions.
While Stije Resink and Jizz Hornkamp remain on the sidelines, AZ have recently welcomed rising star Kees Smit back from injury. However, the youngster should start on the bench, with high-performing forwards Patati and Mexx Meerdink expected to lead the line tonight.
Meanwhile, Juventus will be without long-term absentees Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram, Francisco Conceicao, Kamil Grabara, and Manuel Locatelli. Zeki Celik and Nico Gonzalez are also in the treatment room, leaving Spalletti with limited options across the board.
AZ Alkmaar (4-2-3-1):De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Hoedt, De Wit; Kwakman, P. Koopmeiners; Patati, Stengs, Daal; Meerdink.
Juventus (4-2-3-1):Vicario; Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, Cambiaso; Luiz, Sarr; Kolo Muani, T. Koopmeiners, Alajbegovic; Woltemade.
Juventus have blown hot and cold at the start of the season, but they've at least been consistent in Europe. Therefore, we expect the Bianconeri to stay on that upward trajectory and inflict AZ's first-ever European loss by Italian opposition.
