ADO Den Haag - Groningen tickets for Eredivisie at WerkTalent Stadion and the hosts' first home league test

ADO Den Haag - FC Groningen: the returnee seeks its first points in front of its home crowd

ADO Den Haag and FC Groningen meet on 16 August at 12:15 at WerkTalent Stadion in the second round of the Eredivisie. For the home side, it will be its first league match in front of its own supporters after returning to the top flight, while Groningen arrives in Den Haag as a team that finished last season in mid-table in the first division.

ADO opened the new championship on 8 August away at AZ and lost 0-2. After a goalless first half, the hosts scored through Ro-Zangelo Daal in the 60th minute and Calvin Stengs in the 68th. Robin Peter's team therefore has zero points after one appearance. At the time of writing, Groningen has not yet played its first-round match - its game against FC Utrecht is scheduled for 9 August - so the result of that match cannot be included in the assessment of form without speculation.

For ADO, this match is also important because of the symbolism of its return. The club won the Keuken Kampioen Divisie last season and returned to the Eredivisie, and now, for the first time in its new top-flight campaign, it plays in front of its home supporters. Ticket sales for this match are under way.

What ADO showed against AZ

The result from Alkmaar does not tell the whole story. ADO managed to stay organised in the first half, and Evan Rottier had an early chance to take the lead. Goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema intervened several times before the break and kept the team in the match.

Robin Peter started with Nikiema in goal, while Pascal Mulder, Matteo Waem and Milan Hokke formed the last line. Sekou Sylla and Jalen Hawkins had roles on the flanks, while the midfield consisted of Juho Kilo and Finn de Bruin alongside the experienced Daryl van Mieghem. Rottier and Yannick Eduardo started in attack.

However, conceding two goals within eight minutes showed how demanding the transition to a higher level is. An opponent such as AZ punishes short periods of lost control, and ADO will try to avoid precisely that scenario against Groningen. It will be important for the home side that periods without the ball do not become too long and that the attackers receive more support when the team wins possession.

Peupion is definitely unavailable

One absence has already been confirmed. Cameron Peupion underwent knee surgery on 7 August, and the club announced that he is expected to face a recovery lasting several months. The Australian will therefore not be an option against Groningen.

His absence was already felt in Alkmaar, where Hawkins entered the starting line-up. Peter still has several attacking options. Eduardo arrived on loan from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Rottier started the first round, while Luka Reischl, Nigel Thomas, Donát Bárány and other attackers are also in the squad. ADO further strengthened its midfield during the summer with the arrival of Jan Zamburek, while Juho Kilo extended his contract until 2029.

Groningen arrives with a more established top-flight core

FC Groningen finished the 2025/26 Eredivisie season in ninth place with 48 points from 34 matches. Dick Lukkien's team recorded 14 wins, six draws and 14 defeats with a goal difference of 49-45. That is a good indication of the level of opponent awaiting ADO: Groningen is not a team only now adapting to the league, but one that has already completed an entire top-flight season in its current development cycle.

The final warm-up match before the start of the championship brought a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid on 1 August at Euroborg. Groningen created pressure early in the first half, with Tygo Land, David van der Werff and Thom van Bergen standing out in attacking combinations. Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen had work to do after the break and kept a clean sheet.

Lukkien has an interesting combination of experience and youth. Pelle Clement arrived from Sparta Rotterdam with more than 200 Eredivisie appearances, while Tygo Land remained at Groningen on loan from PSV. Thom van Bergen has already surpassed one hundred appearances for the club and is one of the players ADO's defence must constantly monitor.

Tactical battle: ADO must choose when to take risks

The line-up from Alkmaar suggests that Peter may again use a structure with three centre-backs and very active wide players. Such a set-up gives ADO an extra man in the last line but demands a great deal of work from the players on the flanks. If Sylla and the player on the opposite side push too high at the same time, the space behind them could become a target for Groningen.

Van Mieghem remains particularly important because of his experience and the quality of his final pass. ADO needs a way to get him on the ball more often in areas from which he can connect midfield and attack. Eduardo provides a physical presence closer to the opposition goal, while Rottier can attack space and work without the ball.

Groningen, on the other hand, will have reason to test how patient the home side can be. Land can look for space between the lines, Clement brings experience in midfield, while Van Bergen can force the centre-backs into quick decisions. Vaessen's distribution was also evident during the warm-up matches, so ADO cannot assume that every high press will end with winning the ball close to the opposition penalty area.

For the home side, the most dangerous moment could come immediately after losing the ball. If a larger number of players move forward, Groningen may try to bypass the first wave of pressure and quickly attack the open space. That is why the balance between the desire for a first home victory and control of the match will be one of the key details of the encounter.

Head-to-head meetings provide a warning for the home side

These two clubs have not met in the league since the 2023/24 season, when they played in the second tier. Each team won one match then: ADO celebrated a 1-0 victory in Groningen in September 2023, while Groningen responded with a 2-0 victory in Den Haag in March 2024.

The last five league head-to-head results show that the matches have often been tough and low-scoring:

• ADO Den Haag 0-2 FC Groningen - 29 March 2024.
• FC Groningen 0-1 ADO Den Haag - 15 September 2023.
• FC Groningen 3-0 ADO Den Haag - 26 January 2021.
• ADO Den Haag 0-1 FC Groningen - 20 September 2020.
• ADO Den Haag 1-1 FC Groningen - 14 December 2019.

Groningen has therefore won three of the last five, ADO one, while one match ended without a winner. History itself will not decide the match on 16 August, but it shows that Groningen has had no problem playing pragmatically and waiting for its opportunity in recent away matches in Den Haag.

WerkTalent Stadion and the first home match of a new era

WerkTalent Stadion is located at Haags Kwartier 55 in Den Haag and accommodates approximately 15,000 spectators. The venue has been in use since the 2007/08 season. For ADO, this is its first home appearance after returning to the Eredivisie, which gives the match additional significance regardless of the fact that it is only the second round.

The early kick-off at 12:15 changes the usual match-day routine. Visitors arriving from other cities should allow for morning travel, getting to the stadium and the time needed to enter. It is worth securing tickets in good time and planning transport in advance, especially for travellers visiting this location for the first time.

The atmosphere will largely depend on whether ADO can transfer the energy of its return to the league onto the pitch. After the defeat in Alkmaar, the home crowd gets its first opportunity to see the new top-flight team in Den Haag. An early goal for the home side could significantly raise the intensity in the stands, while Groningen could try to turn the emotional momentum to its advantage by slowing down the tempo.

How to get to the stadium

The stadium is accessible by car, public transport and bicycle. For supporters unfamiliar with Den Haag, it is useful to choose the method of arrival in advance:

• RandstadRail lines 3 and 4 stop at Forepark, from where the stadium is approximately a 12-minute walk away.
• Tram line 19 is connected to the Den Haag Ypenburg stop.
• Bus 30 stops at Den Haag Ypenburg, approximately a 13-minute walk from the stadium.
• Den Haag Ypenburg railway station is also approximately a 13-minute walk from the stadium.
• There is space for approximately 750 bicycles and mopeds, but some surrounding cycle routes may be temporarily closed before and after the match due to arrangements for the arrival of visiting supporters' buses.

For those arriving by car, there are the P1, P2/P2VIP and P3 parking areas. On match days, a parking ticket is required for P2/P2VIP and P3, so it is not advisable to rely on arriving spontaneously by car without a prior plan. From the north, access is possible via the A4 and exit 8, and from the south via the A12 and exit 5 towards Nootdorp.

Den Haag for supporters arriving from outside the city

Den Haag has an extensive tram and bus network, which is useful because WerkTalent Stadion is not the only place visitors can include in their match day. The city centre and the coastal district of Scheveningen are connected by public transport, and the journey between the centre and the coast can take around 15 minutes depending on the starting point and the line.

Because the match starts as early as 12:15, the schedule leaves a large part of the afternoon available for exploring the city after the game. For supporters travelling by train, relying on public transport is more practical than trying to combine several car journeys with searching for parking.

If an entire day in Den Haag is planned, the simplest order is to arrange the journey to the stadium first and only after the match decide between the city centre and the coast. This reduces the risk of sightseeing before the match creating unnecessary rushing ahead of kick-off.

Players worth watching

Both teams have several players through whom the match could be decided. For ADO, it will be interesting to see how much support the attack receives compared with the away match at AZ, while Groningen has more players who have already proven themselves at top-flight level.

• Daryl van Mieghem - ADO's captain in the first round and one of the most experienced players in the team.
• Yannick Eduardo - a young centre-forward on loan from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and a potential focal point of the home attack.
• Kilian Nikiema - ADO's goalkeeper who kept the team in the match against AZ with several saves.
• Pelle Clement - Groningen midfielder with more than 200 Eredivisie appearances and valuable experience in the middle of the pitch.
• Tygo Land - a technically gifted midfielder who was also involved in Groningen's attacking combinations during the warm-up matches.
• Thom van Bergen - an attacker with more than one hundred appearances for Groningen, dangerous when given space between and behind the centre-backs.

What could decide the match

The first factor will be ADO's reaction after the defeat in Alkmaar. The home side was not completely outplayed throughout the match, but it paid the price for a short period in which AZ scored twice. Against Groningen, concentration after losing the ball will be just as important as what ADO does in possession.

The second factor is the rhythm in midfield. If Kilo, De Bruin or Zamburek can enable Van Mieghem to receive the ball facing forward, ADO can put Eduardo and Rottier into useful situations more frequently. If Groningen takes control of that area through Clement and Land, the home attackers could become isolated.

The third detail is the flanks. Peter's structure can create width and enough players in attack, but that same width must be covered when the ball passes into Groningen's possession. Transitions towards Van Bergen and the visitors' other quick players could be precisely the most uncomfortable part of the match for the home centre-backs.

For Groningen, the first round against FC Utrecht, played on 9 August, will provide additional context. Only after that match will it be possible to speak more precisely about its early league form, any new absences and the choice of starting line-up for Den Haag. Anything else before then would be speculation.

ADO nevertheless has a clear opportunity: after a difficult opening away at AZ, it can win its first points precisely in its first home appearance following promotion. Groningen arrives with greater continuity at this level, but WerkTalent Stadion and the home side's motivation give the match a different context from the opening round. If you are planning a trip to Den Haag, it is worth arranging tickets and travel in advance because of the early kick-off.

Sources:
ADO Den Haag - match schedule, report from the away match at AZ, squad, information about Cameron Peupion, coach Robin Peter, the stadium, travel and parking.
FC Groningen - schedule, coaching staff, warm-up match against Real Valladolid and information about Pelle Clement, Tygo Land and Thom van Bergen.
ESPN - results and recent head-to-head meetings between ADO Den Haag and FC Groningen.
Futbol24 - final Eredivisie standings for the 2025/26 season.
DenHaag.com - stadium capacity, city transport and context for visiting Den Haag and Scheveningen.