Sports · Football · 47 mins ago
Juventus beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 as Spalletti defends his team
Juventus beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 in the Europa League in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani scored for Juventus, giving the Italian side a two-goal lead.
AZ had not lost at home in 17 European matches, making the win a difficult one for Juventus.
AZ scored late, and a goal that could have tied the match was ruled out for offside in added time.
Coach Luciano Spalletti said Juventus deserved credit, arguing that people too often dismiss opponents when his team wins.
He also said Juventus should have scored a third goal rather than sit back and defend its lead.
Juventus beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 away in the Europa League on November 5.
Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani scored for Juventus, putting the visitors 2-0 ahead.
AZ’s Mexx Meerdink scored late, and a subsequent AZ equaliser was ruled out for offside.
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti said his team had played well against a strong opponent and urged others to give opponents more credit.
The defeat was AZ’s first European home loss since October 2023.
- Who
- Juventus and AZ Alkmaar. Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani scored for Juventus; Mexx Meerdink scored for AZ.
- What
- Juventus won 2-1 in the Europa League.
- When
- November 5, 2026.
- Where
- AZ Stadion in Alkmaar, Netherlands.
- Why
- The sources do not state a specific reason for the result.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring for Juventus in the 19th minute.
Randal Kolo Muani scored Juventus’s second goal before half-time.
Mexx Meerdink scored for AZ two minutes before the end of regular time.
An AZ equaliser in added time was ruled out for offside, and Juventus won 2-1.
- Final score
- AZ Alkmaar 1-2 Juventus
- Competition
- Europa League, 2026/27 league phase
- Venue
- AZ Stadion, Alkmaar, Netherlands
- Juventus scorers
- Teun Koopmeiners, Randal Kolo Muani
- AZ scorer
- Mexx Meerdink
- AZ European home record
- First home defeat in Europe since October 2023
9 sources
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What people are saying
When we win, people act like our opponents are weak or ridiculous, but we showed courage.
I am very satisfied, because we played well against a very strong team.
What we needed to do was score a third goal.
If the game had lasted another five minutes, I don’t think we would’ve taken the result home.