Planning Groningen vs Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie? Get ready for Euroborg in Groningen on 28 August 2026 and plan your ticket purchase in advance. Check current form, key players, recent meetings, stadium access and practical matchday details before you travel
Groningen vs Fortuna Sittard: an early test of ambitions at the Euroborg
FC Groningen and Fortuna Sittard meet in the 4th round of the Eredivisie on Friday, 28 August 2026 at 20:00 at the Euroborg. The fixture comes very early in the season, but the first two matches have already provided enough material for a serious footballing framework: Groningen opened the championship with two wins, while Fortuna are still unbeaten. As of 20 August, Groningen have 6 points and a goal difference of 6:2, while Fortuna have 4 points and a goal difference of 5:3.
The table can still change before their head-to-head meeting. Groningen visit PSV on 23 August, while Fortuna host AZ a day earlier. Therefore, the form shown in the 3rd round will be the final important signal before the evening at the Euroborg. Even so, it is already clear that the match brings together two teams that have started the season well and that have shown in the opening rounds that they can be dangerous in different phases of play.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, especially after Groningen's first home league match against FC Utrecht was sold out.
What is at stake for Groningen and Fortuna
Groningen have 6 points after two rounds. Dick Lukkien's team first beat FC Utrecht 2:1 at the Euroborg and then convincingly defeated ADO Den Haag 4:1 away from home. Such a start does not decide the season, but it creates a very favourable position ahead of demanding matches against PSV and Fortuna.
Fortuna have also started the season above expectations. Danny Buijs's team earned a point away to reigning champions PSV with a 2:2 draw and then beat SC Cambuur 3:1 at home. Four points from the first two rounds, along with five goals scored, show that Fortuna are not coming to Groningen with the idea of merely defending a result.
The schedule is also important for both teams. Groningen and Fortuna face very strong opponents from the top of the league less than a week before meeting each other. That can affect energy expenditure, the choice of starting line-up and possible rotation. Only after the 3rd round will it become clearer whether Friday at the Euroborg will be a battle between two teams from the very top of the table or an opportunity to recover after the first more difficult result.
Groningen immediately found the goals
The biggest positive for the hosts in the first two rounds was the number of players involved in the finishing. Brynjolfur Willumsson and Thom van Bergen scored against FC Utrecht. In Den Haag, Van Bergen and Willumsson were on the scoresheet again, joined by David van der Werff and Nils Eggens.
The way Groningen created chances against ADO was particularly interesting. For the third goal, Etienne Vaessen quickly started the attack after an opposition set piece, Tika de Jonge carried the ball forward at great speed, and the move went through Jorg Schreuders and Tygo Land before ending with Van der Werff. It is a good example of what Fortuna must control: Groningen do not always need to build an attack for a long time to reach a dangerous area.
After the win over Utrecht, Lukkien emphasised the high intensity he wants from his team. That approach was also visible against ADO, where Groningen were already leading 3:0 at half-time. At the Euroborg, it is logical to expect the hosts to try to raise the tempo early, use the energy from the stands and force Fortuna into mistakes when playing out with the ball.
Groningen players who immediately made a difference
- Thom van Bergen - scored against both FC Utrecht and ADO Den Haag.
- Brynjolfur Willumsson - also scored in both of the first two league rounds.
- David van der Werff - scorer in Den Haag and a player who appears between the lines.
- Tika de Jonge - important in carrying the ball and accelerating transitions.
- Etienne Vaessen - in addition to his saves, he played an important role in launching quick attacks against ADO.
Fortuna showed two different kinds of resilience
The 2:2 draw away to PSV and the 3:1 win over Cambuur did not come in the same way. In Eindhoven, Fortuna had to play for long periods without dominant possession. Nevertheless, the team pressed certain phases of PSV's build-up well, Ole Romeny took advantage of a mistake by the home defence to put his side ahead, and Edouard Michut scored in stoppage time to make it 2:2.
Against Cambuur, Fortuna started much more aggressively and quickly scored two goals. Philip Brittijn scored after a corner from Mohamed Ihattaren, while Lequincio Zeefuik took advantage of a long ball from Jasper Dahlhaus and finished the move for 2:0. After Cambuur got back into the match, Fortuna had to defend their lead through a longer period of pressure. Mattijs Branderhorst made several important interventions, and Shiloh 't Zand made it 3:1 late on.
That gives Buijs two possible starting points for Groningen. Fortuna can press high at selected moments, but they can also drop into a block, close the centre and wait for space for quick breaks. Against a team that scored six goals in the first two rounds, discipline without the ball will be just as important as the creativity of Ihattaren or Michut.
Fortuna's main sources of danger
- Ole Romeny - scored away to PSV and immediately showed how effectively he can punish a defensive mistake.
- Mohamed Ihattaren - his set pieces and passes can open up a match against an organised block.
- Lequincio Zeefuik - against Cambuur he showed strength when running in behind the defence and composure in the finish.
- Edouard Michut - returned after fitness problems and scored the goal that earned a point in Eindhoven.
- Mattijs Branderhorst - was important when Cambuur created pressure in the second half.
Tactical clash: the hosts' tempo against compact Fortuna
The most interesting part of this match could be the space behind the first line of pressure. Groningen showed against ADO that they can quickly turn a won or collected ball into an attack involving several players. Fortuna showed against PSV that they know how to recognise the right moment to press and force the opponent into a mistake.
For the hosts, it will be important how often Van Bergen and Willumsson can receive the ball in situations where Fortuna's defence is not fully set. If the match becomes stretched, Groningen have enough speed and verticality to attack the space. If Fortuna manage to slow the tempo and force the hosts into long positional attacks, Ihattaren and Romeny may get more opportunities in transition.
Set pieces are another point worth watching. Fortuna took the lead against Cambuur after a corner, while Groningen have not depended on only one type of attack in their opening matches. In a game in which both sides may have phases of high intensity, one corner, second ball or quick reaction after losing possession can be more important than the total amount of time spent on the ball.
Absences and squad situation
Caution is needed when looking at the injury list because the situation changes from day to day, and both clubs still have another league round before the match on 28 August. Before the away match against ADO, Groningen were without captain Stije Resink, Oskar Zawada and Malcolm Jeng, while Marco Rente was listed as doubtful. Tyrique Mercera and Ryan Metu were also unavailable for that match.
For Fortuna, the information changed during preparations and the start of the championship. Michut has already returned and scored against PSV, while 't Zand got minutes against Cambuur after illness and immediately scored. Ramazan Bayram appears on current injury lists, while Sven Simons and Iván Márquez missed matches during preparations. The final status of all those players should be assessed after the 3rd-round matches, because it would be inaccurate at this point to declare anyone a certain absentee for the Euroborg.
Head-to-head meetings warn Groningen
Fortuna last won at the Euroborg 2:1 on 25 January 2026. That is an important detail for the hosts: home advantage in this pairing is not automatic. In the previous several league meetings, the results were often close and the winner changed.
- 25.01.2026: FC Groningen 1:2 Fortuna Sittard
- 25.10.2025: Fortuna Sittard 1:2 FC Groningen
- 16.03.2025: FC Groningen 1:0 Fortuna Sittard
- 26.10.2024: Fortuna Sittard 1:0 FC Groningen
- 02.04.2023: Fortuna Sittard 3:1 FC Groningen
That sequence does not provide a simple pattern, but it shows that Fortuna have enough experience of winning in this pairing both at home and away. Groningen will therefore have to avoid a scenario in which a good opening atmosphere leads to excessive risk and space for counter-attacks.
Euroborg and the atmosphere supporters can expect
Euroborg is a compact stadium with stands close to the pitch and a very clear home identity. The first home league match of the season against FC Utrecht was sold out, and the club announced an attendance of 22,525 spectators. Precisely this kind of start to the season increases interest in another evening home match.
For the away team, the most important thing is to survive the opening surge and not allow the stadium to become fully involved in the match through an early goal or a sequence of won duels. For Groningen, the opposite applies: an aggressive start and several early chances can quickly raise the energy in the stands.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when a good team result is combined with an attractive kick-off time, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to the Euroborg
The stadium is located at Boumaboulevard 41 in Groningen, in the Europapark area. For visitors arriving from other cities, the simplest option is often the train to Groningen Europapark station, which is within walking distance of the stadium. On matchdays, FC Groningen recommend arriving on foot, by bicycle or by public transport whenever possible.
For drivers, it is important not to assume that a space will be found immediately next to the stadium without a plan. Car parks around the Euroborg have different rules of use, and part of the capacity may be reserved or fill up quickly. For individual matches, the club publishes special traffic instructions and parking options, so it is worth checking them before departure.
- Train - Groningen Europapark station is within walking distance of the Euroborg.
- Bicycle - there are bicycle parking areas around the stadium, which is a practical option in Groningen.
- Car - P1, P2, P3 and P5 have different access and availability rules on matchdays.
- Away supporters - arrival and parking arrangements may be specifically determined by agreement between the clubs and local authorities.
- Entrances - the exact opening time for the match against Fortuna had not been announced in the verified information as of 20 August, so it should be checked immediately before travelling.
Groningen is a city in the north of the Netherlands where bicycles are an important part of everyday transport. For a match visit, it is practical to plan an earlier arrival and complete the final part of the journey towards the Euroborg by train to Europapark, by public transport or on foot.
What to watch in the final round before the head-to-head meeting
The best preparation for Groningen - Fortuna will not be searching for patterns from last season, but following the 3rd round. Groningen visit PSV, which will be the first real test of how well Lukkien's team can maintain their aggression against an opponent that will probably take away some of their control. Fortuna face a similar test against AZ, but in front of their own supporters.
Three things will be particularly important: the health of the squad after those matches, the number of minutes played by key players, and how both teams react if they fall behind for the first time this season. These are pieces of information that can change expectations for Friday more than the table itself after two rounds.
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing. For a supporter planning the trip, it makes sense to make the final check of the line-ups, traffic instructions and entrance opening times after the end of the 3rd round.
Sources:
- FC Groningen - reports from the matches against FC Utrecht and ADO Den Haag, information about coach Dick Lukkien, scorers, the squad, injuries and the atmosphere at the Euroborg.
- Fortuna Sittard - reports from the matches against PSV and SC Cambuur, information about coach Danny Buijs, scorers, the squad and the return of individual players.
- Eredivisie and KNVB schedule - the 4th-round fixture and the 3rd-round matches involving Groningen and Fortuna.
- ESPN and EL PAÍS - league standings after two played rounds and the goal difference of both teams.
- FBref and other results archives - the latest head-to-head meetings between FC Groningen and Fortuna Sittard.
- FC Groningen and Visit Groningen - stadium access, public transport, parking and practical information for the Euroborg.