Juventus vs Nijmegen Prediction 17 September 2026
📢 The Europa League has a way of producing fixtures that would be hard to imagine in other competitions. In the very first round, Juventus will host NEC Nijmegen - a side the Old Lady would rarely cross paths with under normal circumstances. The gap in class is obvious, and the Allianz Stadium factor makes the hosts' advantage even more pronounced. But matches like this can often be dangerous for the favourites, especially if they start counting the three points too early.
🔁 This prediction is updated on matchday. Keep an eye on the Current News section.
Head-to-Head
📊 Juventus and NEC Nijmegen have never previously met each other.
Head-to-head statistics Juventus - Nijmegen
Juventus Turin Team Overview
⚫ Juventus spent much of last season's Serie A campaign among the leading group and had genuine hopes of finishing in the top four, but they fell apart in the closing stages. They took just six points from their final five matches and ultimately missed out on Champions League qualification. The Europa League is clearly a step down from what Juventus are used to, but the club have gone a long time without a trophy, so the motivation to end that run should be there.
⚪ The new season has produced mixed results so far. After two consecutive wins, Juventus have dropped points twice. First, at home, they only avoided defeat against Milan in the closing minutes, drawing 1-1, despite clearly outplaying their opponents. Then they lost away to Sassuolo 2-3, repeatedly having to come from behind. The finish was particularly chaotic, with four goals scored after the 80th minute. Juventus could well have taken a draw, but in the very last minutes they conceded on the counter-attack - they barely jogged back into defence and were punished for it. The Allianz Stadium now expects a response.
Match Results: Juventus Turin
NEC Nijmegen Team Overview
🔴 Last football year was one of NEC Nijmegen's best in a long time. The club finished third and earned a place in Champions League qualifying - their first involvement in European football since the 2008/09 season. Getting straight into the main competition proved beyond them: in the decisive qualifying round they were beaten comfortably by Bodø/Glimt, losing 1-6 on aggregate. But even reaching the Europa League league phase is a significant achievement for a club of NEC's size.
⚫ Their start to the Eredivisie, however, has been far less convincing. After six rounds NEC Nijmegen have just seven points and sit tenth in the table. Last weekend they were beaten heavily away at Cambuur, losing 3-0. The scoreline did not flatter Cambuur either: they created far more chances, and NEC Nijmegen's defence was repeatedly exposed.
Match Results: NEC Nijmegen
Latest news
Juventus Turin
❌ Juventus have a number of injury and availability concerns ahead of the match. Lloyd Kelly will miss the game through suspension following his red card in their last European fixture. Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie have returned to training, but their involvement remains in doubt. Juan Cabal, Jeff Ekhator and Jérémy Boga are all unavailable through thigh injuries, while Kenan Yıldız continues his recovery from a foot fracture. Manuel Locatelli and Khéphren Thuram are also ruled out.
🔁 Update - 17 September, 6:25 UTC:
- Edon Zhegrova, Juventus's top scorer this season, will also be absent from the Europa League. The Kosovo international was not included in the squad for the European competition. His position in midfield will likely be taken by Teun Koopmeiners.
🔁 Update - 17 September, 11:49 UTC:
- According to Football Italia, Nick Woltemade will start up front for Juventus. It would be the German forward's first start since moving to Turin. Woltemade has previously come off the bench twice, playing 14 minutes against Milan and 30 minutes against Sassuolo.
NEC Nijmegen
❌ NEC Nijmegen have just three absentees. First-choice goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz will miss the match due to a red card in their last European fixture. Deveron Fonville is expected to return from an ankle injury around the start of October. Ahmetcan Kaplan is close to returning from a knee injury.
🔁 Update - 17 September, 6:29 UTC:
- Emre Mor will miss the Europa League match due to muscular discomfort. He played 16 minutes as a substitute at the weekend, and after the game Sky Sports reported the Turkish forward had picked up a problem. Mor has contributed 1 goal and 1 assist in seven matches this season.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Juventus predicted starting XI: Vicario - Kalulu, Bremer, Lukumi, Çelik - Douglas Luiz, Koopmeiners - McKennie, Nicolás González, Alaibegović - Kolo Muani.
📋 NEC Nijmegen predicted starting XI: Polster - Kabar, Sandler, Storm - Bischoff, Nejašmić, Geiger, Tahaoui - Sherry, Lebreton - Sierhuis.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
NEC Nijmegen’s early season fixtures have been packed with goals-only one of their last ten competitive matches has seen fewer than three goals scored. The lone exception was their goalless draw against Olympiacos in the opening round of Champions League qualifying. Juventus, meanwhile, are still searching for consistency at the back, making the over 2.5 goals market at odds of 1.47* an appealing option.
🚩 Corners Prediction
If you prefer betting on set pieces, consider taking under 9.5 corners at odds of 1.85*. This bet has landed in seven of NEC Nijmegen’s last eight matches, with no more than nine corners taken in those games. While Juventus generally rack up impressive corner stats, an early goal for the Bianconeri could see them slow the tempo considerably in the second half.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
Juventus have a clear edge in quality and are likely to dominate possession for large stretches. Their superior decision-making speed and individual skill could force the visitors into committing fouls. So, a NEC Nijmegen win in yellow cards looks like a logical choice here.
🚀 Player Stats Bet
One of Juventus’ few bright spots in their last outing against Sassuolo was Edon Zhegrova. The Kosovo international came off the bench in the 60th minute and immediately injected energy into the attack-taking on defenders, consistently looking for incisive passes, and regularly delivering the ball into the box. He capped off his performance with a brace, making a strong case for a starting spot this time out. Against NEC Nijmegen, Zhegrova should find plenty of space and opportunities to shine again, so backing Zhegrova to score could be worth a look.
😱 High-Risk Bet
As mentioned earlier, NEC Nijmegen haven’t featured in European competition for over 15 years - and there’s little connection between that squad and the current lineup. Their head-to-head with Bodø/Glimt in Champions League qualifying already highlighted the gulf in class that can exist at this level. Juventus are a step above the Norwegian side, so punters looking for a riskier play might consider Juventus -3 handicap at odds of 4.15*.
🎯 Safe Bet
If you’re after something more conservative, backing Juventus double chance (not to lose) at 1.08* is a solid pick. The Turin giants have avoided defeat in 15 of their last 17 matches and now host an opponent clearly inferior on paper. An upset for the Old Lady at Allianz Stadium would be a massive shock.
👀 If the Game Goes Off Script
Even a fixture that looks straightforward on paper can take an unexpected turn. Juventus run the risk of underestimating their opponents, starting sluggishly and allowing NEC Nijmegen to build confidence. For the Dutch side, this is a rare chance to test themselves against European royalty, so motivation won’t be lacking. If Juventus fail to impose themselves from the outset, under 2.5 goals at 2.75* could become an interesting play.
*Odds are approximate and may vary between bookmakers.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
The bookmakers make Juventus clear favourites for this match, and it is hard to argue with that. Almost every argument points in the Turin side's direction: a noticeably stronger squad whose market value exceeds their opponents' by roughly 14 times, vast European experience, and home advantage. On top of that, the current NEC Nijmegen side look weaker than they did last season. The hosts simply need to make the most of that gap. The Dutch side will do well to avoid a heavy defeat. We are expecting a 3-0 scoreline and are backing Juventus - Handicap (-1.5).
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Betting Tips: Juventus Turin - NEC Nijmegen
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