Eredivisie Knockout phase Sat, Mar 7 2026 · 15:30 Euroborg, Groningen
Groningen
First leg0–2 3–1 Full time · HT 1–1 xG 1.92 – 1.83
Ajax
  • T. van Bergen 6’
  • O. Zawada 65’, 72’
  • 30’ D. Klaassen
Full match report oneScoredOdds · Value · Detailed stats →
Match story · our forecast vs the result iModel is our forecast, published before the match and locked at kick-off: expected goals for each side and the probability of every outcome.

xG after the match measures the quality of the chances each side actually created. It is known only after the final whistle, so it is not a forecast.

Groningen beat Ajax

Ajax entered as narrow favourites, but Groningen won 3–1 through goals from van Bergen and Zawada. Ajax replied through a Klaassen goal. The chances were even, with xG of 1.92 and 1.83. On the chances created, Ajax deserved more: 1.3 expected points against the 0 points they took.

Groningen ✓30%
Draw26%
Ajax45%

Model vs reality

Groningen goals
3
Model 1.27 · xG 1.92
Ajax goals
1
Model 1.61 · xG 1.83
Total goals
4
Model 2.88 · xG 3.75
Score 3–1
3%
Most likely 1–1 (12%)
Over 2.5
Yes
Model 55%
Both scored
Yes
Model 58%
Match facts
★ Player of the matchO. ZawadaGroningen · 2 goals
9.2
  • RefereeSerdar Gozubuyuk
  • VenueEuroborg
  • Table before kick-offGroningen 11th · Ajax 3rd

Timeline

  1. T. van Bergen 1–0Assist D. Janse
    6’
  2. D. Klaassen 1–1Assist A. Gaaei
    30’
  3. Half time · 1–1
  4. ⇄ H. JurjusFor E. Vaessen
    46’
  5. ⇄ O. ZawadaFor B. Willumsson
    46’
  6. ⇄ M. RenteFor T. Mercera
    46’
  7. O. Zawada 2–1Assist M. Peersman
    65’
  8. ⇄ Rayane BounidaFor D. Klaassen
    69’
  9. ⇄ K. DolbergFor S. Berghuis
    69’
  10. ⇄ T. de JongeFor T. Hernes
    69’
  11. O. Zawada 3–1Assist T. Blokzijl
    72’
  12. ⇄ Rui MendesFor O. Zawada
    76’
  13. ⇄ W. PrinsFor M. Peersman
    82’
  14. ⇄ Maher CarrizoFor J. Šutalo
    83’
  15. ⇄ D. KonaduFor J. Mokio
    88’
  16. ⇄ K. Fitz-JimFor Sean Steur
    88’
  17. ⇄ T. TomiyasuFor O. Wijndal
    88’
  18. W. WeghorstYellow card
    90+4’
  19. T. BlokzijlYellow card · Foul
    90+5’
  20. Full time · 3–1

Team stats

Groningen13 shots · 9 in box, 4 outside
Ajax12 shots · 7 in box, 5 outside
GroningenAjax
40% Possession 60%
1.92 Expected goals (xG) 1.83
1.45 Expected points (xPts) 1.34
13 Shots 12
6 Shots on target 4
4 Shots off target 4
3 Blocked shots 4
9 Shots inside the box 7
4 Shots outside the box 5
370 Passes 543
74% Pass accuracy 82%
6 Corners 8
3 Goalkeeper saves 3
4 Fouls 7
0 Offsides 2
1 Yellow cards 1
0 Red cards 0
7.15 Team rating 6.61

Line-ups

Groningen 4-4-2

16.7 E. Vaessen(G) ↓46’
437.0 M. Peersman A↓82’ 47.7 D. Janse A 37.7 T. Blokzijl A 166.3 T. Mercera ↓46’
76.5 T. Hernes ↓69’ 146.9 J. Schreuders 187.2 T. Land 176.7 D. van der Werff
268.2 T. van Bergen 96.3 B. Willumsson ↓46’
  • 1E. Vaessen (G)↓46’6.7
  • 43M. PeersmanA↓82’7.0
  • 4D. JanseA7.7
  • 3T. BlokzijlA7.7
  • 16T. Mercera↓46’6.3
  • 7T. Hernes↓69’6.5
  • 14J. Schreuders6.9
  • 18T. Land7.2
  • 17D. van der Werff6.7
  • 26T. van Bergen8.2
  • 9B. Willumsson↓46’6.3

Substitutes used

  • 21H. Jurjus (G)↑46’6.7
  • 5M. Rente↑46’7.3
  • 2W. Prins↑82’6.3
  • 8T. de Jonge↑69’6.6
  • 19O. Zawada ★9.2
  • 27Rui Mendes↑76’6.3

Unused: L. Štubljar, Robin Kelder, Elvis Van der Laan, S. Bouland, Jismerai Dillema, M. Seuntjens

Ajax 4-3-3

266.3 M. Paes(G)
55.9 O. Wijndal ↓88’ 156.7 Y. Baas 376.5 J. Šutalo ↓83’ 37.2 A. Gaaei A
486.7 Sean Steur ↓88’ 247.2 J. Mokio ↓88’ 186.9 D. Klaassen ↓69’
116.7 M. Godts 256.2 W. Weghorst 236.6 S. Berghuis ↓69’
  • 26M. Paes (G)6.3
  • 5O. Wijndal↓88’5.9
  • 15Y. Baas6.7
  • 37J. Šutalo↓83’6.5
  • 3A. GaaeiA7.2
  • 48Sean Steur↓88’6.7
  • 24J. Mokio↓88’7.2
  • 18D. Klaassen↓69’6.9
  • 11M. Godts6.7
  • 25W. Weghorst6.2
  • 23S. Berghuis↓69’6.6

Substitutes used

  • 32T. Tomiyasu↑88’
  • 28K. Fitz-Jim↑88’
  • 7Maher Carrizo↑83’6.7
  • 43Rayane Bounida↑69’6.2
  • 19D. Konadu↑88’
  • 9K. Dolberg↑69’6.5

Unused: P. Reverson, Jesse Joeri Heerkens, Lucas Rosa, A. Bouwman, O. Gloukh, Mohamed Abdalla

Player stats

Top rated
O. ZawadaGroningen9.2
2nd
T. van BergenGroningen8.2
3rd
D. JanseGroningen7.7

Groningen

PlayerMinGAShotsKPPassTklIntDrbFoulsRating
E. Vaessen G 46 0 0 3 sv 0 54% 28 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.7
M. Peersman D 82 0 1 0 (0) 1 59% 29 2 1 0/0 1/1 7.0
D. Janse D 90 0 1 0 (0) 1 88% 43 1 3 0/0 1/1 7.7
T. Blokzijl D 90 0 1 0 (0) 3 91% 46 1 1 0/0 0/0 7.7
T. Mercera D 46 0 0 0 (0) 0 74% 19 2 0 1/2 0/2 6.3
T. Hernes M 69 0 0 1 (1) 0 76% 17 0 0 2/5 0/0 6.5
J. Schreuders M 90 0 0 1 (0) 0 90% 42 3 1 0/0 0/0 6.9
T. Land M 90 0 0 0 (0) 2 92% 38 3 2 1/1 0/0 7.2
D. van der Werff M 90 0 0 2 (1) 1 53% 30 5 0 0/2 1/0 6.7
T. van Bergen F 90 1 0 2 (1) 0 63% 24 2 0 1/2 0/2 8.2
B. Willumsson F 46 0 0 0 (0) 0 42% 12 1 0 0/0 0/0 6.3
H. Jurjus G 44 0 0 0 sv 0 50% 12 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.7
M. Rente D 44 0 0 0 (0) 0 57% 14 2 0 0/0 0/0 7.3
W. Prins D 8 0 0 1 (0) 0 — 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.3
T. de Jonge M 21 0 0 0 (0) 1 75% 4 0 0 0/0 0/1 6.6
O. Zawada F 30 2 0 2 (2) 2 67% 9 0 0 0/0 1/0 9.2
Rui Mendes F 14 0 0 1 (1) 0 67% 3 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.3

Ajax

PlayerMinGAShotsKPPassTklIntDrbFoulsRating
M. Paes G 90 0 0 3 sv 0 56% 48 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.3
O. Wijndal D 88 0 0 1 (1) 1 83% 36 2 2 0/0 0/1 5.9
Y. Baas D 90 0 0 0 (0) 0 93% 72 2 1 0/0 1/0 6.7
J. Šutalo D 83 0 0 0 (0) 0 90% 71 0 3 1/1 0/0 6.5
A. Gaaei D 90 0 1 1 (0) 1 81% 43 1 5 1/1 1/0 7.2
Sean Steur M 88 0 0 1 (0) 0 91% 47 1 3 2/2 0/0 6.7
J. Mokio D 88 0 0 1 (1) 2 77% 62 1 1 1/2 0/1 7.2
D. Klaassen M 69 1 0 1 (1) 0 81% 27 2 0 0/0 1/0 6.9
M. Godts F 90 0 0 1 (0) 4 78% 46 0 0 4/9 1/0 6.7
W. Weghorst F 90 0 0 1 (0) 1 81% 16 0 0 1/1 1/1 6.2
S. Berghuis F 69 0 0 1 (1) 0 80% 49 1 0 0/2 1/1 6.6
T. Tomiyasu D 2 0 0 0 (0) 0 100% 1 0 0 0/0 0/0 —
K. Fitz-Jim M 2 0 0 0 (0) 0 67% 3 1 0 0/0 1/0 —
Maher Carrizo F 7 0 0 0 (0) 0 100% 2 0 0 1/1 0/0 6.7
Rayane Bounida M 21 0 0 0 (0) 0 80% 15 0 0 0/0 0/0 6.2
D. Konadu F 2 0 0 0 (0) 0 — 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 —
K. Dolberg F 21 0 0 0 (0) 1 100% 5 0 0 0/2 0/0 6.5

Match data from eScored. Ratings are the data provider's 0–10 match ratings; 7.2 and above is a strong game, 8+ is rare.