A season opener that immediately demands a competitive response
FC Groningen and FC Utrecht enter the new season without room for a gradual warm-up. The first round brings a direct meeting between clubs that finished the previous league season in the upper half of the table, but with different impressions and different summer changes. Utrecht finished the 2025/2026 season in sixth place with 53 points, while Groningen were ninth with 48 points. The difference was not enormous, but Utrecht had a more stable overall performance, while Groningen showed that at Euroborg they can also defeat opponents from the very top.
For the hosts, this is an opportunity to immediately confirm that ninth place was not the final limit of Dick Lukkien's young team. For the visitors, the match is the first real test under new head coach Anthony Correia, who took charge of the team after Ron Jans' period. The first round does not decide the season, but it quickly reveals how well the new roles have been adopted and how solid the defensive organisation is.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters because the league season opens at Euroborg, a stadium where the stands are close to the pitch and where the home team's early pressure often gains additional strength from the crowd.
Groningen retain the core of the team and add experience
Dick Lukkien continues to lead FC Groningen, giving the hosts continuity that Utrecht do not have on the bench. Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, defenders Marco Rente and Thijmen Blokzijl, midfielders Stije Resink, Tika de Jonge, Tygo Land and Jorg Schreuders, and forwards Thom van Bergen, Oskar Zawada and Brynjólfur Willumsson have remained in the squad. Such a core preserves the automatisms in the organisation without the ball and in midfield.
The most experienced summer signing is Pelle Clement. The 30-year-old midfielder arrived after more than 200 Eredivisie appearances, with 12 goals and 25 assists. Groningen looked at their best last season when playing vertically and aggressively, but found it more difficult to control slower matches. Clement can help precisely in such phases, and he was among the scorers in the 3-2 friendly victory against FC Emmen.
Tygo Land is back at Groningen on loan after 30 official appearances in the previous season. He offers a calmer first touch and a connection between the back line and the attack. Alongside Resink, De Jonge or Clement, the hosts have several different midfield combinations.
Nikolas Brandis, a 21-year-old Slovakia youth international, has arrived on the left side of defence, while Malcolm Jeng has expanded the options among the centre-backs. Against Utrecht, Groningen will have to defend both width and depth, especially after quick switches of play towards the wing.
What the hosts' preparations have shown
After opening victories against regional opponents, Groningen lost 2-1 to Heracles Almelo, defeated FC Emmen 3-2, lost 2-1 to AEK Athene and drew 0-0 with Volos NFC. Against Volos, they had difficulty breaking through a low and disciplined defensive setup.
This suggests two key questions for the first round. Can Groningen create overloads on the flanks quickly enough, and can they find a pass between Utrecht's defensive and midfield lines? If the match becomes physical and closed, the importance of set pieces, second balls and the patience of Clement, Land and Resink will increase further.
The final friendly test against Real Valladolid at Euroborg is scheduled for 1 August. Since it is being played after this guide was prepared, its result and any possible squad consequences should be checked before assessing the starting line-up for the first round.
Utrecht begin a new era under Anthony Correia
FC Utrecht arrive in Groningen with a new head coach and a visibly changed squad. Anthony Correia signed a three-season contract, and Gertjan Tamerus and Robbert Michielsen arrived with him. Willem Janssen, Harald Wapenaar and Kevin van Veen remained on the staff, so the change is not a complete break, but an attempt to connect a new tactical direction with the existing knowledge of the team.
Miguel Rodríguez left the club and moved to Deportivo Alavés. More responsibility is now being taken by Yoann Cathline, Ángel Alarcón, Adrian Blake, Victor Jensen, David Min and Artem Stepanov.
David Min scored twice in the 3-1 victory against Al-Shahaniya SC. Stepanov scored against SC Cambuur and PEC Zwolle, while Alarcón found the net against Beerschot. Utrecht do not depend on only one forward, but they still have to show who the first choice is.
Joris van Overeem has returned to the club and brings experience from 246 Eredivisie appearances. He can play as a holding midfielder or drop between the centre-backs. Alongside Dani de Wit, Zidane Iqbal and Alonzo Engwanda, Correia has midfielders with different profiles.
The visitors' preparations show depth, but also a search for balance
During the summer, Utrecht defeated PEC Zwolle 2-1, Beerschot 2-0, V-Varen Nagasaki 3-2 and Al-Shahaniya SC 3-1. Against SC Cambuur, they played two full matches on the same day: they lost one 0-1 and won the other 1-0. Correia distributed minutes among a large number of players and tested different line-ups.
In one of the final tests, he used a line with more defenders, with Niklas Vesterlund and Arthur Zagré in wider positions and Siebe Horemans, Ferdinand Pohl and Mike Eerdhuijzen closer to the centre. Such a structure can turn into three centre-backs with advanced wing-backs or a deeper block of five.
For Groningen, it will be important to recognise the moment when Utrecht's wide players move forward. Thom van Bergen can exploit the space behind them, while Oskar Zawada or Willumsson can occupy the centre-backs in the middle. On the other hand, if Groningen lose the ball with a large number of players ahead of it, Cathline, Alarcón and Blake have enough pace for a direct attack towards Vaessen.
Utrecht play their final friendly match against Sevilla FC on 2 August. That match will provide a clearer picture of the first-choice line-up, the defensive formation and the players closest to starting at Euroborg.
Head-to-head meetings warn the hosts
Utrecht have been more successful in this pairing in recent years. They have won four of the last five league meetings, including three victories at Euroborg. Groningen's only victory in that sequence came in September 2025 at Stadion Galgenwaard, where they won 1-0.
- FC Groningen 1-2 FC Utrecht - 14 February 2026.
- FC Utrecht 0-1 FC Groningen - 14 September 2025.
- FC Utrecht 3-1 FC Groningen - 13 April 2025.
- FC Groningen 0-1 FC Utrecht - 20 October 2024.
- FC Groningen 1-2 FC Utrecht - 7 April 2023.
The line-ups have changed, but the sequence shows that Utrecht know how to play in this environment and do not need many clear opportunities. Groningen must therefore be precise in their early distribution of the ball and cautious after their own set pieces, especially if both full-backs remain high at the same time.
Where the match could be decided
The first important duel will be in the centre of the pitch. Groningen can deploy Resink, Land, De Jonge and Clement there in different combinations. Utrecht respond with Van Overeem, De Wit, Iqbal or Engwanda. If the visitors manage to close the first vertical pass towards the home forwards, Groningen will have to build attacks through the width. If the hosts force Utrecht to retreat, Clement's ability to play between the lines becomes particularly important.
The second duel will take place along the touchlines. Utrecht's wide players can operate very high, giving the visitors width and an additional player in the final third. Groningen will have to decide whether their full-back will step out aggressively or whether the wide midfielder will track the opponent's run. A wrong decision could open space for a cut-back towards De Wit or the forward in the middle.
The third element is set pieces. In the first round, automatisms are not yet completely stable, and both teams have tall centre-backs and forwards capable of holding their position in a crowd. The reaction to rebounds will also be important.
Groningen will probably try to open the match with high intensity, encouraged by the full stands and the desire to exploit Utrecht's adaptation to a new coach. The visitors will seek composure through Barkas, Van Overeem and the centre-backs, followed by acceleration towards the wings. If Utrecht survive the initial pressure without conceding, the match could become more tactically patient and less open.
Euroborg and the matchday experience
Euroborg has a capacity of 22,525 spectators and has been the home of FC Groningen since 2006. The stands are built close to the pitch, so noise from the crowd is quickly transmitted towards the players. The club has sold all 14,141 season tickets for the season, which is a strong indicator of interest ahead of the first round.
Places in the stands are disappearing quickly, and individual ticket sales for the match opened in the second half of July. The home sections are intended for FC Groningen supporters, while Utrecht supporters obtain tickets for the away section through their club. Away supporters are required to arrive in an organised car or bus convoy.
- The stadium address is Boumaboulevard 41, Groningen.
- Groningen Europapark railway station is located within a short walking distance of Euroborg.
- On matchdays, the club recommends arriving on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.
- P2 MyOffice is approximately a five-minute walk from the stadium, and a space is generally reserved in advance.
- The exact gate opening time for this match has not yet been announced and should be checked in the club's final notice.
Visitors arriving by car should not count on spontaneous parking immediately next to the stadium. Certain areas around Euroborg are reserved or subject to charges, while the traffic arrangements may change depending on roadworks and the expected attendance. P+R options on the edge of the city, followed by public transport, are often a simpler solution.
Groningen is a university city in the north of the Netherlands with a compact centre and well-developed railway connections. Euroborg is located southeast of the historic centre, next to the Europapark area. Visitors wishing to combine the match with sightseeing should leave enough time to travel between the city centre and the stadium, especially during the hours when larger numbers of supporters are heading towards Euroborg.
What to check immediately before departure
The starting line-ups are not yet final, and the last friendly matches may affect the decisions of both coaches. There is no confirmed, complete list of injured or suspended players for the first round, so such information should not be assumed in advance. The most important thing is to follow the final club announcements regarding player availability, stadium opening times and any traffic changes.
- Groningen's result and line-up against Real Valladolid.
- Utrecht's result and formation against Sevilla FC.
- Confirmed absences after the final training sessions.
- Gate opening times and instructions for individual sections.
- Current traffic conditions and parking availability.
It is worth securing tickets in time and arriving at the stadium early. The first round, Utrecht's new coach, the large number of retained key Groningen players and the latest head-to-head results create a match in which details will be more important than summer predictions.
Sources:
- FC Groningen - match schedule, current squad and staff, friendly results, the arrivals of Pelle Clement, Nikolas Brandis and Malcolm Jeng, and the extension of Tygo Land's loan.
- FC Utrecht - schedule, current squad, the appointment of Anthony Correia, the return of Joris van Overeem, the departure of Miguel Rodríguez and reports from friendly matches.
- Eredivisie and Tribuna.com - the first-round schedule and the final standings of the 2025/2026 season.
- FC Groningen Route & Parkeren and Groningen Bereikbaar - capacity, recommended ways of arriving, parking and the stadium's location.
- FootyStats - results of the last five league meetings between Groningen and Utrecht.