FC Groningen vs AFC Ajax, 2018-19 REGULAR SEASON
Overview
Match Preview
FC Groningen vs AFC Ajax — Eredivisie at Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion.
- FC Groningen 12 games · 15 pts (2026/27)
- AFC Ajax 12 games · 25 pts (2026/27)
Match Details
- Referee Dennis Higler
- Referee Danny Makkelie
- Referee Rob Dieperink
- Referee Richard Polman
- Referee Roy de Nas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr | AFC Ajax | H | 0–1 | L |
| 14 Apr | SC Heerenveen | A | 1–1 | D |
| 06 Apr | SBV Excelsior | H | 1–0 | W |
| 02 Apr | VBV De Graafschap | H | 1–0 | W |
| 30 Mar | AZ | A | 0–1 | L |
| 17 Mar | ADO Den Haag | H | 1–0 | W |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr | FC Groningen | A | 1–0 | W |
| 16 Apr | Juventus FC | A | 2–1 | W |
| 13 Apr | SBV Excelsior | H | 6–2 | W |
| 10 Apr | Juventus FC | H | 1–1 | D |
| 06 Apr | Willem II Tilburg | A | 4–1 | W |
| 03 Apr | FC Emmen | A | 5–2 | W |
Season Stats
| FC Groningen | AFC Ajax | |
|---|---|---|
| #9 | Position | #3 |
| 15 | Points | 25 |
| 12 | Played | 12 |
| 4 / 3 / 5 | W / D / L | 7 / 4 / 1 |
| 29 | Scored | 32 |
| 28 | Conceded | 15 |
| +1 | GD | +17 |
| 1.25 | PPG | 2.08 |
| 33% | Win % | 58% |
Key Stats
60%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (15 games)
H2H (15 games)
73%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
8%
Clean Sheets
FC Groningen this season
FC Groningen this season
25%
Clean Sheets
AFC Ajax this season
AFC Ajax this season
FC Groningen are 9th (15 pts). AFC Ajax are 3rd (25 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
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
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
Top Scorers (This Season)
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 |
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 |
Events
Match Events
- 0' The referee blows the starting whistle. The fans are roaring. The teams are ready for the match. FC Groningen is hosting AFC Ajax for another epic battle.
- 5' The clock is ticking and both teams know a goal could change everything at this point.
- 10' Ritsu Doan has been one of the livelier players on the pitch with 0 goals to his name this season.
- 15' AFC Ajax have won 847 goals from 491 games. They will be desperate to add to that tally today.
- 20' The 28-year-old Kaj Sierhuis has been sensational this season — 2 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
- 25' A quiet spell here at Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion. AFC Ajax seem content sitting deep and soaking up pressure.
- 28' The referee calls foul for Paul Gladon. He receives a Yellow card.
- 33' Suriname international Deyovaisio Zeefuik has been a key figure this campaign — 2 goals and 0 assists in the Array this season.
- 38' The tempo has dropped considerably in the last few minutes. Erik ten Hag will be considering his options from the bench.
- 43' FC Groningen is defending very well tonight not leaving a chance for their rivals to get through for a goal.
- 48' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 53' FC Groningen are deployed in a today, looking to exploit space against AFC Ajax's shape.
- 58' AFC Ajax is showing some good football. However, AFC Ajax are ready to play back every minute. It might result in some problems for the home side. The game will hardly remain goalless.
- 59' Time for substitution for AFC Ajax. Lasse Schone is replaced by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
- 64' Matchday of the Array and both teams know exactly what is at stake tonight.
- 68' Mo El Hankouri is replacing Iliass Bel Hassani for the FC Groningen side.
- 73' Joel Veltman catches the referee's attention in entirely the wrong way. Yellow card on 73.
- 75' It’s gonna be a Yellow card for Ludovit Reis.
- 76' It’s a booking for FC Groningen player. Julian Chabot gets a Yellow card.
- 77' Kasper Dolberg has so much to prove this time. He replaces David Neres on 77 minute.
- 78' Magnificent from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar! That is 50 goals in 491 appearances — and it could not have come at a better time.
- 79' A moment of madness from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on 79 minutes earns him a Yellow card. AFC Ajax will be frustrated.
- 81' Another substitution for FC Groningen to replace Tim Handwerker by Thomas Bruns on 81 minute.
- 84' Klaas-Jan Huntelaar picks up a Red card and will need to be extremely careful for the remainder of this match.
- 89' The referee has had an easy afternoon — neither side has been overly physical in the tackle.
- 90' The whistle greets Hakim Ziyech as he departs to be replaced by Rasmus Kristensen.
- The referee brings this contest to a close. AFC Ajax take all three points.
Lineups
FC Groningen Lineups
Starting XI
- 8
- 9
-
29
Tim Handwerker ↓ Thomas Bruns 81'
- 1
- 4
- 42
- 5
- 7
- 6
- 24
- 19
Bench
-
15
Thomas Bruns ↑ 81'
-
14
Mo El Hankouri ↑ 68'
- 16
- 31
- 20
- 12
- 23
- 36
- 11
- 58
- 17
Coach
Danny Buijs
AFC Ajax Lineups
Starting XI
- 31
- 10
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 3
- 4
- 6
- 21
-
7
David Neres ↓ Kasper Dolberg 77'
- 17
Bench
- 19
- 26
-
2
Rasmus Kristensen ↑ 90'
- 8
- 30
- 40
-
25
Kasper Dolberg ↑ 77'
-
9
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar ↑ 59'
- 28
- 16
Coach
Erik ten Hag
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Dusan Tadic | 4 |
| Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 4 |
| Steven Bergwijn | 3 |
| Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 2 |
| Wout Weghorst | 2 |
| Davy Klaassen | 2 |
| Steven Berghuis | 2 |
| Thom van Bergen | 2 |
FC Groningen Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
1 / 4
1.13
FC Groningen xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
2.4
AFC Ajax xG
I would bet for:
Over 2.5 goals 67% + Both teams to score 61%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: AFC Ajax win
Both Teams to Score
✗ Wrong
Avg goals/match: 3.53
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✗ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 96% |
|
4% |
| ± 1.5 | 86% |
|
14% |
| ± 2.5 | 67% |
|
33% |
| ± 3.5 | 46% |
|
54% |
| ± 4.5 | 28% |
|
72% |
Double Chance
FC Groningen or Draw
43%
Draw or AFC Ajax
80%
FC Groningen or AFC Ajax
78%
Half-Time Result
✗ WrongActual: Draw at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 2
9.2%
1 – 1
8.8%
0 – 2
8.5%
1 – 3
7.3%
0 – 1
Actual
0 – 3
6.6%
2 – 2
5.2%
1 – 4
4.4%
2 – 1
4.4%
0 – 0
4.3%
2 – 3
4.2%
0 – 4
3.9%
Asian Handicap — FC Groningen
| Handicap | FC Groningen covers | Push | AFC Ajax covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 2% | — | 98% |
| -2 | 2% | 4% | 94% |
| -1.5 | 6% | — | 94% |
| -1 | 6% | 10% | 84% |
| -0.5 | 16% | — | 84% |
| +0.5 | 36% | — | 64% |
| +1 | 36% | 21% | 43% |
| +1.5 | 57% | — | 43% |
| +2 | 57% | 19% | 24% |
| +2.5 | 76% | — | 24% |
Clean Sheet
FC Groningen keeps clean sheet
10%
✓
AFC Ajax keeps clean sheet
33%
✗
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.