Eredivisie | Gameweek 33

May 14, 2025 at 7pm UK

Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadium

Groningen vs Ajax

Match preview

Questions are mounting over whether Ajax are on the verge of throwing away the league title after a frustrating weekend loss at home against NEC, their third straight match without victory.

Despite dominating large periods of the match, maintaining 65% possession and making 22 attempts at goal, only four of Ajax's shots were on target. The team evidently lacked an attacking spark with both Brian Brobbey and Oliver Edvardsen sidelined.

Not only did the result mark the first time that De Godenzonen had ever lost to NEC at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in the top flight, it also saw their lead at the top of the league cut to just one point following PSV's dramatic victory over Feyenoord.

Additionally, this was the first time that Francesco Farioli's team had failed to win three consecutive matches since February 2024. The eight goals they conceded during this difficult period are more than they had allowed in their previous 15 league games combined since mid-December.

The visitors will be nervous once again this week, but they can take some comfort from their record in this fixture, having beaten this opponent in each of their last six encounters, including a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture back in October.

Meanwhile, Groningen have enjoyed an excellent return to the top flight. They are sitting on 38 points with two games remaining, and are still holding an outside shot at qualifying for European competition next season.

However, after two stunning victories in which Trots van het Noorden racked up a combined 10 goals, they were brought back down to earth with a 3-0 defeat to AZ over the weekend.

This was Dick Lukkien's side's fourth loss in six matches, conceding three or more goals in each defeat, and they have yet to keep a clean sheet since returning from the March international break.

Nevertheless, the hosts will believe they have a genuine chance of getting a positive result in this match, given Ajax's recent struggles and their own strong home form. They have lost just once in their last 11 league matches at the Euroborg, and that defeat was against PSV.

Recent Performance

Groningen Eredivisie form:LLLWWL

Ajax Eredivisie form:WWWLDL

Team News

Groningen will be without at least two players for this match. Maxim Mariani and Fofo Turay have been ruled out due to injury, while Mats Seuntjens is considered a minor doubt.

Since returning from injury, Wouter Prins has come on as a substitute in two successive matches, and he could make the starting 11 in midweek, potentially in place of Marco Rente.

For the visitors, Brian Brobbey withdrew from the last match due to an ankle injury, so his availability for this match is uncertain. This could see Wout Weghorst continue to lead the line alongside Steven Berghuis.

Ajax have four players ruled out of this trip to Groningen: Oliver Edvardsen (knee), Branco van den Boomen (back), Youri Baas (groin), and Amourricho van Axel Dongen (ankle).

Possible starting lineup

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Prins, Ekdal, Blokzijl, Peersman; Bacuna, Resink; Kwakman, Valente, Schreuders; Van Bergen

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Pasveer; Gaaei, Sutalo, Rugani, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Traore, Weghorst, Berghuis