Featured: All Eyes on Euroborg for a Crucial Showdown
The spotlight shines bright on Euroborg this Wednesday night. Ajax travel north for a must-win clash with FC Groningen to keep their grip on the Eredivisie title race. But Groningen has every reason to play spoiler. The hosts are locked in a fierce six-team battle for the final European play-off spots and will be desperate to extend their strong home form against the league leaders.
Groningen’s European Dream Still Alive
More than a decade after sealing European qualification via the play-offs (beating AZ in 2014), Groningen is daring to dream again. They sit level on points with Sparta Rotterdam and are firmly in contention for eighth or ninth place, the final play-off berths now that KNVB Cup winners Go Ahead Eagles are excluded.
The Euroborg: Fortress Groningen
Much of Groningen’s resurgence has come at home. With 29 points from 16 home matches (8 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats), they have their best home record since the 2018/19 season. Defensively, they’ve been exceptional: conceding just 12 goals at home, the fewest of any Eredivisie side this season.
| Team | Home goals conceded |
|---|---|
|
FC Groningen |
12 |
|
PSV |
14 |
|
Ajax |
14 |
|
sc Heerenveen |
15 |
|
AZ |
16 |
Finding Their Scoring Touch
Groningen’s attack has caught fire at the perfect time. They netted 10 goals in their last two home games (4-1 vs. Heracles, 6-0 vs. RKC), more than they had scored in the previous eleven home fixtures combined (9).
Valente: Groningen’s Breakout Star
The name on every fan’s lips is Luciano Valente. The 21-year-old midfielder has been dazzling defences all season with his dribbling and vision. Only Richonell Margaret and Yoann Cathline have completed more successful dribbles (Valente has 65). His creative output has also been record-breaking: no Groningen player has recorded more assists in a season since Jarchinio Antonia (2014/15), and only Dusan Tadic (2011/12) had more home assists in recent history. A nomination for the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year award is just reward. Can Valente produce another defining performance against Ajax?
Two Clubs, Two Targets, One Night
Victory would keep Ajax in pole position for the title heading into the final weekend. For Groningen, three points would provide a huge boost in their pursuit of a play-off place. It’s all or nothing at Euroborg.
Watch the match live on ESPN Netherlands or check your local broadcaster. You can also follow all Eredivisie action in the Eredivisie app (available in the Dutch App Store and Google Play Store).
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