Juventus defeated AZ Alkmaar 2-1 in a UEFA Europa League match in Alkmaar, Netherlands, on Nov. 5, 2026, surviving a frantic finish in which the hosts twice threatened to complete a comeback, with Randal Kolo Muani assisting Teun Koopmeiners and scoring himself in a dominant first half, Corriere della Sera reported.
The result was sealed only in the final moments, after AZ’s equalizer was disallowed for offside following a goalmouth scramble in stoppage time, the Italian outlet’s report from Alkmaar said.
Kolo Muani Drives Juventus to a 2-0 First-Half Lead
Kolo Muani was the decisive figure for the visitors, operating across the right side and finishing both moves that put Juventus ahead. He started the opening goal by beating defender De Wit with a sombrero, sprinting into space and delivering a low cross that Koopmeiners converted with a composed finish into the corner, Corriere della Sera reported.
The French forward then scored the second himself: he won the ball, exchanged passes with Woltemade, and fired a left-footed shot past the AZ goalkeeper.
Luciano Spalletti watched from the Juventus bench throughout, seated beside Kolo Muani’s area of the technical zone, according to the report.
Koopmeiners Scores at Home Without Celebrating
Koopmeiners’ goal carried extra weight in Alkmaar, where he was born close to the stadium and spent his early career as AZ captain. A large photo of him from his AZ days hangs on the stadium walls, and the home supporters displayed a banner bearing his face alongside that of his brother, Peer, Corriere della Sera reported.
Koopmeiners was visibly moved by the banner before scoring the opener, but celebrated the goal without emotion, the report said.
AZ Storm Back, Then See Equalizer Disallowed
AZ Alkmaar controlled possession throughout the match, reaching 57 percent in the second half, and piled on pressure as Juventus retreated into a deep defensive shell, Corriere della Sera reported. A shot from Smit went high, but with two minutes remaining Meerdink scored to make it 2-1.
In the first minute of stoppage time, AZ appeared to equalize when De Wit’s rebound was bundled over the line after goalkeeper Vicario made a sharp save, but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside, ending the hosts’ comeback and sending the stadium into uproar, the report said.
Goals in the Match
| Scorer | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Teun Koopmeiners | Juventus | 1-0 |
| Randal Kolo Muani | Juventus | 2-0 |
| Meerdink | AZ Alkmaar | 2-1 |
| De Wit (disallowed, offside) | AZ Alkmaar | 2-1 stands |
The Europa League fixture was played on Nov. 5, 2026, in Alkmaar, with Corriere della Sera filing its report from the stadium the same evening.
