Juventus begin their Europa League campaign against NEC Nijmegen with a need to restore order after the damaging Serie A defeat to Sassuolo. Luciano Spalletti will have Weston McKennie back in the group for the League Phase opener, although a long injury list and UEFA registration restrictions continue to narrow his options.
SEO Title: Juventus v NEC Nijmegen: McKennie returns for Europa League opener
SEO Description: Juventus face NEC Nijmegen in their first Europa League League Phase match, with Weston McKennie available again but several senior players absent.
A European evening after the Sassuolo setback
The meeting with NEC Nijmegen is Juventus’ first continental fixture of the season and arrives at an awkward moment in their domestic campaign. Spalletti’s side come into the match following a poor league loss to Sassuolo, making the Dutch visitors an immediate opportunity to respond rather than simply the start of a new competition.
McKennie’s recovery gives the coach an experienced option again. The United States international started the opening league match against Frosinone, then missed fixtures against Parma, Milan and Sassuolo because of muscular fatigue. He has now completed his recovery and is available for the European opener.
Cambiaso misses out despite return to training
Andrea Cambiaso had also returned to group training, but he has not been included in the match squad. The 2000-born defender featured late on against Frosinone and Parma before an ankle sprain ruled him out of the games against Milan and Sassuolo.
Juventus remain without a substantial group of longer-term absentees, while two further players are unavailable for different reasons.
- Kenan Yildiz, Khéphren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Emanuel Ekhator, Juan Cabal and Jérémie Boga remain sidelined through injury.
- Kelly cannot play because of suspension.
- Edon Zhegrova is not on Juventus’ UEFA list, despite scoring twice against Sassuolo.
- Cambiaso has been left out after his recent ankle problem.
Next Gen players brought into Spalletti’s plans
The volume of absences has led Spalletti to include three Juventus Next Gen players: Elimoghale, Owusu and Pagnucco. Their presence underlines the reduced depth available for a match which opens a European League Phase that Juventus will want to use as a source of stability after the weekend’s disappointment.
Juventus squad for NEC Nijmegen
- Goalkeepers: Vicario, Grabara, Pinsoglio
- Defenders: Celik, Bremer, Gatti, Kalulu, Lucumi, Pagnucco
- Midfielders: Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, McKennie, Sarr, Owusu
- Forwards: Conceicao, Kolo Muani, Alajbegovic, Woltemade, Gonzalez, Elimoghale
A test of Juventus’ available resources
For Spalletti, the NEC match is shaped as much by the players unavailable as by those returning. McKennie’s fitness is a timely lift, but Juventus enter their first Europa League night without several regular options and with a number of younger players required to fill out the travelling group. The immediate task is to turn a difficult league afternoon into a more composed European chapter.
