AFC Ajax vs FC Groningen, Eredivisie 2020-21 REGULAR SEASON
Overview
Match Preview
AFC Ajax vs FC Groningen — Eredivisie at Johan Cruyff ArenA.
- AFC Ajax 12 games · 25 pts (2026/27)
- FC Groningen 12 games · 15 pts (2026/27)
Match Details
- Referee Dennis Higler
- Referee Rob Dieperink
- Referee Roy de Nas
- Referee Ingmar Oostrom
- Referee Richard Brondijk
7 games this season
🟨 2.1/game
⚽ 10.1 goals/game
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSV | 12 | 26 |
| 2 | Feyenoord Rotterdam | 12 | 25 |
| 3 | AFC Ajax | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | FC Twente '65 | 12 | 24 |
| 5 | AZ | 12 | 23 |
| 6 | SC Heerenveen | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Fortuna Sittard | 12 | 20 |
| 8 | Go Ahead Eagles | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | FC Groningen | 12 | 15 |
| 10 | SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden | 12 | 15 |
| 11 | NEC | 12 | 14 |
| 12 | Sparta Rotterdam | 12 | 12 |
| 13 | PEC Zwolle | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | FC Utrecht | 12 | 12 |
| 15 | SBV Excelsior | 12 | 11 |
| 16 | Telstar 1963 | 12 | 10 |
| 17 | ADO Den Haag | 12 | 9 |
| 18 | Willem II Tilburg | 12 | 3 |
Head-to-Head
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Mar | FC Groningen | H | 3–1 | W |
| 28 Feb | PSV | A | 1–1 | D |
| 25 Feb | Lille OSC | H | 2–1 | W |
| 21 Feb | Sparta Rotterdam | H | 4–2 | W |
| 18 Feb | Lille OSC | A | 2–1 | W |
| 13 Feb | Heracles Almelo | A | 2–0 | W |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Mar | AFC Ajax | A | 1–3 | L |
| 28 Feb | Fortuna Sittard | H | 1–0 | W |
| 24 Feb | Feyenoord Rotterdam | H | 0–0 | D |
| 21 Feb | SC Heerenveen | A | 1–1 | D |
| 13 Feb | PEC Zwolle | H | 1–0 | W |
| 30 Jan | Heracles Almelo | A | 0–1 | L |
Season Stats
| AFC Ajax | FC Groningen | |
|---|---|---|
| #3 | Position | #9 |
| 25 | Points | 15 |
| 12 | Played | 12 |
| 7 / 4 / 1 | W / D / L | 4 / 3 / 5 |
| 32 | Scored | 29 |
| 15 | Conceded | 28 |
| +17 | GD | +1 |
| 2.08 | PPG | 1.25 |
| 58% | Win % | 33% |
Key Stats
60%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (15 games)
H2H (15 games)
73%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
25%
Clean Sheets
AFC Ajax this season
AFC Ajax this season
8%
Clean Sheets
FC Groningen this season
FC Groningen this season
AFC Ajax are 3rd (25 pts). FC Groningen are 9th (15 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
AFC Ajax
0-15
3/1
16-30
3/1
31-45
8/4
46-60
3/2
61-75
8/1
76+
6/5
■ Scored ■ Conceded
FC Groningen
0-15
7/4
16-30
6/3
31-45
4/5
46-60
4/5
61-75
3/5
76+
3/5
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
AFC Ajax
| Toluwalas Arokodare | 7 G | 1 A |
| Julian Brandt | 6 G | 2 A |
| Davy Klaassen | 3 G | 1 A |
| Jorthy Mokio | 3 G | 1 A |
| Kasper Dolberg | 2 G | 2 A |
FC Groningen
| Brynjolfur Darri Willumsson | 9 G | 1 A |
| Thom van Bergen | 8 G | 3 A |
| David van der Werff | 2 G | 3 A |
| Tygo Land | 2 G | 1 A |
Events
Match Events
- 0' What a night it is going to be! AFC Ajax welcome FC Groningen for this crunch clash at Johan Cruyff ArenA.
- 5' Magnificent from Ryan Gravenberch! That is 14 goals in 491 appearances — and it could not have come at a better time.
- 10' The energy levels are beginning to show. Danny Buijs might look to freshen things up shortly.
- 15' FC Groningen come into this ranked in Array. They desperately need points to push themselves up the standings.
- 20' FC Groningen are keeping things exceptionally tight at the back. It will take something special to break them down.
- 25' AFC Ajax looks like a favorite considering 1 games won in last 1 matches with its main striker Julian Brandt scoring 2 goals.
- 30' Although teams showed high tempo form the start, they seem to slow down a bit. Both sides really need to catch a fire. Otherwise, we have another goalless match.
- 35' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 40' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 45' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
- 46' Patrick Joosten is replacing Paulos Abraham for the FC Groningen side.
- 48' Mohammed Kudus is having his name booked by the referee on 48.
- 53' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
- 54' Clinical. Composed. Brilliant. Sebastien Haller makes it 2-0.
- 59' named a earlier, and opted for a in response. A fascinating tactical duel is developing.
- 63' Time for substitution for AFC Ajax. Mohammed Kudus is replaced by Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.
- 68' AFC Ajax have won 846 goals from 491 games. They will be desperate to add to that tally today.
- 72' FC Groningen receives a Yellow card for a hard tackle on 72.
- 74' The supporters are chanting for Ahmed El Messaoudi. He replaces Ramon-Pascal Lundqvist on 74 minute.
- 77' Dusan Tadic makes no mistake. The score reads 3-0 and AFC Ajax are in front.
- 77' A tactical swap from AFC Ajax — Oussama Idrissi on, Dusan Tadic off on 77 minutes.
- 78' Time for substitution for AFC Ajax. David Neres is replaced by Antony.
- 79' The AFC Ajax manager makes a substitution. Dusan Tadic departs to be replaced by Oussama Idrissi.
- 83' Controversy at the stadium! Davy Klaassen argues furiously but the Yellow card stands.
- 83' Sam Schreck is ready to make an impact after coming on for Daniel van Kaam at the 83 minute mark.
- 84' Against the run of play, Ahmed El Messaoudi has scored! This game has turned on its head.
- 88' Zakaria Labyad is replacing Davy Klaassen for the AFC Ajax side.
- The final whistle goes. A composed, disciplined performance from AFC Ajax to claim maximum points.
Lineups
AFC Ajax Lineups
Starting XI
-
6
Davy Klaassen ↓ Zakaria Labyad 88'
- 1
- 31
-
10
Dusan Tadic C ↓ Oussama Idrissi 78'
-
7
David Neres ↓ Antony 78'
- 8
- 22
- 4
- 21
- 20
- 2
Bench
-
9
Oussama Idrissi ↑ 78'
-
39
Antony ↑ 78'
- 5
-
19
Zakaria Labyad ↑ 88'
-
18
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp ↑ 63'
- 3
- 33
- 16
- 23
- 25
- 15
Coach
Erik ten Hag
FC Groningen Lineups
Starting XI
- 7
- 3
- 2
- 11
- 1
-
32
Mike te Wierik ↓ Wessel Dammers 74'
-
26
Daniel van Kaam ↓ Sam Schreck 83'
- 21
- 5
- 31
- 19
Bench
-
14
Patrick Joosten ↑ 46'
-
8
Sam Schreck ↑ 83'
-
18
Ahmed El Messaoudi ↑ 74'
-
4
Wessel Dammers ↑ 74'
- 23
- 25
- 17
-
33
Joel van Kaam ↑ 83'
- 34
Coach
Danny Buijs
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Dusan Tadic | 4 |
| Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 4 |
| Steven Bergwijn | 3 |
| Jorthy Mokio | 2 |
| Antony | 2 |
| Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 2 |
| Wout Weghorst | 2 |
| Davy Klaassen | 2 |
Head to Head
AFC Ajax Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
4 / 4
2.91
AFC Ajax xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.23
FC Groningen xG
I would bet for:
Over 2.5 goals 77% + AFC Ajax to win 67%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: AFC Ajax win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 4.14
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 97% |
|
3% |
| ± 1.5 | 91% |
|
9% |
| ± 2.5 | 77% |
|
23% |
| ± 3.5 | 58% |
|
42% |
| ± 4.5 | 39% |
|
61% |
Double Chance
AFC Ajax or Draw
85%
Draw or FC Groningen
33%
AFC Ajax or FC Groningen
82%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: AFC Ajax win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
2 – 1
8.2%
3 – 1
Actual
2 – 0
6.9%
3 – 0
6.5%
1 – 1
6.5%
4 – 1
5.6%
2 – 2
5%
3 – 2
4.8%
4 – 0
4.6%
1 – 0
4.5%
1 – 2
3.5%
4 – 2
3.5%
Asian Handicap — AFC Ajax
| Handicap | AFC Ajax covers | Push | FC Groningen covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 32% | — | 68% |
| -2 | 32% | 19% | 49% |
| -1.5 | 51% | — | 49% |
| -1 | 51% | 19% | 30% |
| -0.5 | 70% | — | 30% |
| +0.5 | 87% | — | 13% |
| +1 | 87% | 8% | 5% |
| +1.5 | 95% | — | 5% |
| +2 | 95% | 4% | 2% |
| +2.5 | 98% | — | 2% |
Clean Sheet
AFC Ajax keeps clean sheet
30%
✓
FC Groningen keeps clean sheet
6%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.