Juventus welcome NEC Nijmegen to the Allianz Stadium on Thursday evening, kicking off their UEFA Europa League League Stage campaign in front of a 34-team field. With neither side having played a match in the competition yet, both sit on zero points — Juventus at position 16 and NEC Nijmegen at position 24 in the table.
Juventus arrive carrying a mixed run of domestic form, taking 8 points from their last five matches. That sequence includes two wins, two draws and a defeat, with a 3-2 loss to Sassuolo their most recent outing. The Italian side sit in mid-table in the context of the League Stage standings.
NEC Nijmegen come into the match in a less settled patch, having collected 4 points from their last five matches. Their recent results include a heavy 3-0 defeat to Cambuur and a 3-0 loss to Bodo/Glimt, alongside a draw with Excelsior and a win away at PEC Zwolle. The Dutch club are placed in the bottom third of the League Stage table.
This is the opening match of the League Stage for both clubs, meaning the result will set the tone for their respective European campaigns. With 34 teams in the competition, every point carries weight from the very first fixture.
Kick-off at the Allianz Stadium is at 19:00 UTC.