Juventus begin their Europa League campaign against NEC Nijmegen on September 17, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 local time at Juventus Stadium. The Italian side enter this European fixture after a dramatic domestic defeat, while the visitors arrive following a heavy league loss of their own. Home advantage could be particularly important: Juventus remain unbeaten on their ground this season, whereas NEC have won only one of their last 11 European away matches and failed to score in their last three continental fixtures on the road. The Europa League ranking data places Juventus 10th and NEC Nijmegen fourth, but the recent form figures offer a different perspective. Juventus have collected three victories from their last five games and conceded fewer than one goal per match on average, while NEC have suffered three defeats during the same period and allowed an average of 2.4 goals.

Juventus Recent Form and Key Statistics

Juventus come into the match after losing 3-2 against Sassuolo on September 13. The defeat was decided by a goal in the 94th minute, ending a match in which the Turin club had scored twice but could not protect the result. Despite that setback, the broader five-match sequence remains positive, with three wins, one draw and one defeat.

Across those five fixtures, Juventus have averaged 1.6 goals scored and 0.8 conceded per game. That defensive average is notably stronger than NEC Nijmegen's recent figure, although the latest 3-2 loss shows that the home side are not entirely immune to an open contest. Their domestic home record this season consists of four points from two league matches, following a victory over Parma and a draw with Milan.

There is also a long-running goals trend attached to matches at Juventus Stadium. At least two total goals have been recorded in each of the club's last 19 home matches. However, Juventus games have generally been more restrained before the interval: their last 11 matches have all produced under 1.5 first-half goals, and at least one team failed to score before half-time in 34 of their previous 36 fixtures.

• Last five Juventus matches: three wins, one draw and one defeat.
• Recent scoring average: 1.6 goals per match.
• Recent concession average: 0.8 goals per match.
• Home trend: over 1.5 total goals in 19 consecutive matches.
• First-half trend: under 1.5 goals in 11 consecutive games.

Juventus also bring substantially more continental experience into this meeting. They have won this competition three times across its various forms and were unbeaten at home during their previous Champions League campaign. Combined with their unbeaten start on home soil this season, that record gives the hosts a solid platform for their opening Europa League assignment.

NEC Nijmegen Recent Form and Key Statistics

NEC Nijmegen travel after a 3-0 defeat against SC Cambuur on September 12. That result extended their domestic run without a victory to three league games. Their overall record across the last five matches stands at one win, one draw and three defeats, with the team averaging 1.2 goals scored and 2.4 conceded.

The visitors had previously won their first two away league games and scored seven times across those fixtures, although both victories came against teams identified as being among the current bottom three. Their latest away result was considerably less encouraging, with the three-goal defeat to Cambuur highlighting the defensive difficulties reflected in NEC's recent concession average.

This is NEC Nijmegen's first season in European competition since 2008/09. Their Champions League run ended in the play-off round against Bodo/Glimt, who won the tie 6-1 on aggregate after defeating NEC in both legs. The wider away record in Europe is another major concern, as the Dutch club have managed only one victory from their last 11 continental matches on the road. They have also gone three European away games without scoring.

Nevertheless, NEC's matches regularly produce goalmouth action. Over 1.5 total goals have been scored in 25 of their last 26 matches, while at least one second-half goal has featured in 36 of the previous 38. There has also been a first-half goal in 19 of their last 21 away fixtures. These figures suggest that their matches rarely remain scoreless throughout, even though NEC themselves have struggled to find the net in recent European trips.

• Last five NEC Nijmegen matches: one win, one draw and three defeats.
• Recent scoring average: 1.2 goals per match.
• Recent concession average: 2.4 goals per match.
• Overall goals trend: over 1.5 goals in 25 of the last 26 matches.
• European away record: one win in the last 11 fixtures.

Juventus vs NEC Nijmegen Match Analysis

The contrast between Juventus at home and NEC Nijmegen on their European travels shapes this Europa League preview. Juventus have not lost on their own ground this season and have conceded only 0.8 goals per match across their latest five outings. NEC, by comparison, have lost three of their last five, conceded at an average of 2.4 goals and arrive immediately after a 3-0 defeat.

The supplied match probabilities reinforce the hosts' advantage, assigning Juventus a 64% chance of victory, compared with 20% for a draw and 16% for an NEC Nijmegen win. The home side's continental experience and NEC's record of only one win in 11 European away fixtures further support that assessment.

The timing of the goals may be less straightforward. Juventus have repeatedly kept their first halves below two goals, but NEC have seen at least one goal before the break in 19 of their last 21 away matches. Both clubs also carry strong trends for at least two goals over the full match, while the statistical outlook gives over 2.5 goals a 54% probability. Even so, NEC's failure to score in their last three European away games and the 52% probability for both teams not to score leave open the possibility that Juventus could provide most of the attacking output.

Overall, the available evidence points toward Juventus controlling the stronger position. Their home results, better recent record, lower concession average and NEC's continental travel problems all favor the Italian side. The visitors' high-scoring match trends mean Juventus will still need to manage the contest carefully, particularly after conceding three times against Sassuolo, but the balance of the supplied data makes a home victory the most coherent conclusion.

Juventus vs NEC Nijmegen prediction from BetMines: Juventus win (1) with 64% probability.