McKennie ruled out of AZ trip with adductor fatigue as Alajbegović and Cabal return

Weston McKennie will miss Thursday's Europa League game at AZ Alkmaar with fatigue in his right adductor, though he has no muscle tear. Kerim Alajbegović and Juan Cabal are fit again, a relief for a badly stretched squad before a demanding trip.

Juventus will travel to AZ Alkmaar without Weston McKennie. The American has fatigue in his adductor and will sit out Thursday’s Europa League match. The news is not all bad. Kerim Alajbegović and Juan Cabal, who also came off in the 2-0 win over Napoli, have both been cleared.

McKennie lasted only the first half at the Allianz Stadium. Federico Gatti replaced him at the break. Luciano Spalletti had to send on an extra defender because McKennie felt a pull in his adductor. The coach also had few other players to choose from.

A short rest should be enough, because the injury is fatigue rather than a tear, Sky Sport Italia reported. He should be back for the league. The problem is in his right adductor. The medical staff will check him again before Thursday, ANSA said.

Alajbegović and Cabal shake off Napoli knocks

Alajbegović had both a goal and a scare against Napoli. He opened the scoring in the 70th minute and was replaced by Jérémie Boga two minutes later. Boga then added the second in the 87th. At 19 years and 41 days, the teenager has set a new mark: no non-Italian scorer in a Serie A meeting of these two clubs has been younger.

His knee knock has already cleared up. Cabal made way for Andrea Cambiaso after 83 minutes with cramp. That is put down to him not having started a game for some time. He will be available in Alkmaar.

Their return matters because the squad is badly stretched. Seven players are on the long-term injury list. Rugani, Zhegrova, Ekhator and Milik were left out of the UEFA squad. Losing McKennie, who can play several positions, leaves Spalletti with even fewer options for the trip to the Netherlands.

AZ’s home fortress tests Juventus’s scoring form

The match at AZ kicks off at 21:00 CET on 5 November. It is Matchday 4 of the league phase. Juventus have two wins and a draw so far.

AZ will be hard to break down at home. Their last home defeat in Europe was 4-1 to Aston Villa in the Conference League in October 2023.

Juventus arrive in good scoring form. They have nine goals in this season’s Europa League. Only Benfica, with ten, have scored more. That is Juventus’s best total after three games of a European campaign since 1999/2000.

History against Dutch opposition also offers encouragement. Juventus are unbeaten in three previous Europa League games against Dutch clubs, with two wins and one draw. They scored seven goals and conceded one in those matches.

McKennie’s absence will shape the midfield in Alkmaar, but the focus will quickly shift to his recovery. His place for the next league game is in doubt. Juventus visit Fiorentina on Matchday 11, on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 20:45.