FC Groningen - Ajax

FC Groningen enter matchday 9 on 18 October 2026 with momentum following a dominant 5-1 victory over Excelsior. Their recent league campaign has been defined by a mix of high-scoring results, including a convincing win against PEC Zwolle, as they look to build consistency at the Euroborg. Ajax arrive in contrasting fashion, seeking to regain their footing after a challenging week that included a narrow defeat to Hajduk Split in the Conference League and a frustrating draw against NEC Nijmegen. The visitors will be missing several key players, including Steven Berghuis and Kasper Dolberg, as they contend with a mounting injury list.

This clash at the Euroborg revives a competitive rivalry, most recently highlighted by Ajax’s 2-0 win in the Eredivisie ECL playoff on 21 May 2026. FC Groningen will look to replicate the form that saw them defeat Ajax 3-1 in March, relying on an expected XI featuring Jacob Ondrejka and Thom van Bergen. Ajax, led by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, must overcome their recent defensive lapses to secure points away from home. Whether the hosts can exploit the visitors' current fatigue and absences remains the central question of this encounter.