Preview: Groningen vs. Feyenoord – Prediction, team news, lineups

In the toughest test of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season so far, the newcomers Groningen accept the challenge, Feyenoord on Saturday evening in Euroborg.

Both teams had to settle for sharing the spoils in their last games before the international break and are now aiming to quickly get back on track.

Game Preview

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Feyenoord started the new season with a penalty shootout win over PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield final, but their league success has been rather disappointing so far.

Brian Priske's side began their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against newly promoted Willem II on August 10, before crushing PEC Zwolle 5-1 in their next outing eight days later.

However, the momentum from the convincing win against Zwolle was quickly wiped out, as De Stadionclub dropped points again in the last Rotterdam derby against Sparta and now has only five points after three games.

Despite having played one game less, Feyenoord is already seven points behind reigning champions PSV at the top of the Eredivisie table and is looking to regain domestic supremacy after losing the title last season.

Before the start of the Champions League match against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen five days later, Saturday's guests are aiming for a morale-boosting win this weekend to get back on track.

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Groningen returned to the Eredivisie after a year's absence and immediately settled into life in the Dutch top flight after the club successfully went through the first four rounds of matches without losing a game.

Consecutive wins against NAC Breda and RKC Waalwijk at the start of the season were followed by two draws against AZ Alkmaar and Almere City. Dick LukkienThe team has scored eight out of twelve possible points this season.

This record is only surpassed by three teams, and Trots van het Noorden is currently in fourth place in the table, not least due to Leandro BacunaAs a right-back, his offensive performance has already allowed him to score two goals and provide two assists.

Groningen's unbeaten start looks set to be in serious danger this weekend as the team faces an opponent who is unbeaten in eight consecutive editions of this fixture since February 2019.

The last time Saturday's opponents met was in the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker last season, where the home team suffered a 2-1 defeat, their only loss in their last 24 matches.

Groningen Eredivisie form:

Feyenoord Eredivisie form:

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

Team News

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Latest Summer Arrivals Jordan Lotomba And Hwang In-beom—who both joined us on September 1—are available for their debut, and the former could be available due to the departure of Lutsharel Geertruida.

defender Quilindschy Hartman And Gernot Trauner Both are out of the question for Feyenoord as they continue to struggle with knee and muscle injuries respectively.

Ramiz Zerrouki will not play for the away team here either, as he is suspended for one game after the match against Sparta Rotterdam.

This could mean a recall to the starting eleven for Antoni Milambo after the Dutch U21 international missed his team’s last game.

Groningen's Leandro Bacuna translated his good start to the season at club level to the international stage when he found the back of the net for Curacao at half-time. The 33-year-old is one to keep an eye on.

Finn Stam must keep his discipline under control as he has already been cautioned three times this season – two out of five, which would amount to a one-match ban.

Possible starting eleven for Groningen:
Vaessen; Stam, Peersman, Pension, Bacuna; Valente, De Jonge, Hove, Schreuders; Van Bergen, Postema

Possible starting eleven for Feyenoord:
Wellenreuther; Smal, Hancko, Beelen, Lotomba; Zechiel, Timber, Milambo; Paixao, Gimenez, Stengs

We think: Groningen 1-2 Feyenoord

Groningen have impressed in the first weeks of the season, but this weekend's test still presents a tough challenge.

We are betting that Feyenoord will take home all three points at the end of the 90 minutes and expect an exciting game.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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