The 5-0 victory convinces everyone — particularly after the Sassuolo defeat. Juventus rediscovered their identity, their style, and their goals on Thursday evening: a significant response that now needs to be given continuity in the league to confirm that the Mapei Stadium was merely an accidental detour. The Sky Sport studio debate was led by Del Piero, and joined by Fabio Capello, Giancarlo Marocchi, and Alessandro Costacurta.
Marocchi: “Sarr Looked Rusty — But Douglas Luiz as Regista Was Truly Beautiful”
Marocchi’s opening observation focused on the individual nuances beneath the collective brilliance. “Sarr looked a little rusty to me — but fortunately Douglas Luiz played well as the regista, the one who goes and helps all his teammates. In my opinion the Brazilian played a genuinely beautiful match.” Capello immediately produced one of the panel’s lighter moments, turning the tables on the former Juventus midfielder: “Did you see the vertical pass he played, from which the goal came?” Marocchi’s response was characteristically sharp and self-deprecating: “Yes, I saw it — he played a pass to McKennie. But honestly, if Spalletti had put me on the pitch instead of sending me out as a build-up player, with that defensive line sitting so high, I would have put the ball behind it for McKennie too.”
Costacurta: “They Undervalue Alajbegovic — He Will Have a Great Future. You’ll See”
Costacurta’s contribution was the one that will be most quoted and most remembered from the entire evening’s studio debate. “I think it is still to be understood how much of this is Juventus’s merit and how much is NEC’s demerit — even if Juventus behaved well. What I would underline instead are the performances of the players who are becoming important, because the positive performances keep accumulating. It seems to me that Nico González has become a very important resource, as has the return of McKennie. Alajbegovic is becoming very good — and since I am hearing him being undervalued in the places I frequent, I believe instead that he will have a great future. You will see.”
The declaration was delivered with the quiet certainty of a former world-class defender who has spent his career reading attacking players: their movement, their technical quality, their personality under pressure. For Alajbegovic, to be endorsed in those terms by Costacurta — barely a month into his Serie A career — is a statement of serious professional substance.
Capello: “Juventus Remained Solid — NEC Only Threatened Once. The First Goal Was Prepared Magnificently”
Capello’s tactical assessment was characteristically precise. “There was great pressing from NEC in every moment — they continuously tried to win the ball back. The first goal was prepared and executed very well on the opposing goalkeeper’s long kick, with Woltemade’s movement freeing the space. Above all it was a great action against a team that, even at 5-0, continued to press with enormous determination.”
On the defensive discipline that gave the scoreline its most meaningful statistical dimension: “Juventus remained solid throughout. NEC managed to threaten only from outside the penalty area — never a truly dangerous action from close range, perhaps just once in the first half. It was a beautiful first half precisely because of the determination shown in combating this constant pressing.”
His conclusion placed the result in its proper context: “Unfortunately for NEC, Juventus exploited things to the maximum — because a man-to-man defence with defenders not sufficiently fast, and with a couple of gifts from the goalkeeper, puts you in difficulty. You need to arrive at creating those opportunities first. Juventus did that.”
