Overview
- Juventus beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 on Thursday thanks to first-half goals from Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani, a result that materially improves their position in the Europa League group.
- The win came despite a severe shortage of players, with only 15 outfield players called up and several regulars unavailable, forcing Spalletti to rely on youth and rotation.
- AZ pulled one back late and had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out for offside, a refereeing decision that preserved Juventus’s victory.
- Coach Luciano Spalletti praised the team’s attitude but warned the match could have been lost if it had lasted minutes more and was filmed angrily confronting defender Cabal over late lapses.
- Separately, Napoli has gone into a team retreat after heavy defeats including a 4-1 loss to Porto as the club seeks to regroup and stabilise results.