Groningen vs Ajax Match Analysis and Prediction

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Ajax will make a trip to the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion to face Groningen on Saturday as they will be looking to cement the position at the top of the table.

The hosts are looking to make it three wins in a row while Ajax will be aiming to make it four consecutive league victories.

In their last game before the international break, Groningen saw off the threat of FC Utrecht in a 3-1 victory at the Stadion Galgenwaard on March 20.

Mo El Hankouri and Michael de Leeuw put the Pride of the North in control with first-half goals but Bart Ramselaar got his side back in the game shortly after the break, only for Jorgen Strand Larsen to put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute.

Danny Buijs’ side sit eighth in the Eredivisie table, four points adrift of the last Conference League playoff spot with seven matches left to play.

Groningen have conceded the third fewest goals in home games so far and that defensive solidity will need to come forth against an opposing side renowned for their attacking ruthlessness.

On the other hand, Ajax came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 contest against Feyenoord at the Johan Cruijff Arena two Sundays ago.

Luis Sinisterra and Guus Til netted either side of Sebastien Haller’s equaliser to leave de Joden trailling at the interval, before second-half goals from Dusan Tadic and Antony turned the game around.

Next up for Erik ten Hag’s side is a trip to an opposing ground where they have lost on each of the last two visits with their last victory coming back in 2019.

However, the defending champions strolled to a 3-0 victory at Johan Cruijff Arena in September’s reverse fixture and will be confident of completing a league double this weekend.

Groningen vs Ajax head to head

The two sides have previously met on 56 occasions, where Ajax are leading with 41 victories while Gronongen have won eight and they have drawn in seven. Ajax have scored 126 goals and conceded 57. In their last five meetings, Ajax have won in three while Groningen have won twice.

Ajax 2-0 Groningen 28/09/19

Groningen 2-1 Ajax 26/01/20

Groningen 1-0 Ajax 04/10/20

Ajax 3-1 Groningen 07/03/21

Ajax 3-0 Groningen 25/09/21

Groningen latest home form

Groningen have recently kept a relatively good run of form at home, as they have lost only one of their four most recent matches. In their last home game, they managed to defeat NEC 4-3 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded seven.

Groningen 1-2 NEC 19/01/22

Groningen 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles 06/02/22

Groningen 0-1 Fortuna Sittard 12/02/22

Groningen 1-0 Willem II 26/02/22

Groningen 4-3 NEC 12/03/22

Groningen latest away form

Groningen have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. In their last away game, they managed to defeat Utrecht 3-1 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 12 goals and conceded just five.

Rodinghausen 1-4 Groningen 10/01/22

Vitesse 1-3 Groningen 22/01/22

PEC Zwole 1-1 Gronongen 20/02/22

Feyenoord 1-1 Groningen 05/03/22

Utrecht 1-3 Groningen 20/03/22

Ajax latest home form

Ajax suffered a 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League on March 15. However, they have been on a good run of form at home, as they have lost only one of their nine most recent matches. In their last five matches, they have scored 16 goals and conceded five.

Ajax 5-0 Vitesse 09/02/22

Ajax 5-0 Tewnte 13/02/22

Ajax 3-2 RKC Waalwijk 06/03/22

Ajax 0-1 Benfica 15/03/22

Ajax 3-2 Feyenoord 20/03/22

Ajax latest away form

Ajax have recently kept a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost only one of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat AZ 2-0 in the KNVB Beker on March 3. In their last five away matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded six.

Willem II 0-1 Ajax 19/02/22

Benfica 2-2 Ajax 23/02/22

Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Ajax 27/02/22

AZ 0-2 Ajax 03/03/22

Cambuur 2-3 Ajax 11/03/22

Groningen news

Groningen’s Radinio Balker and Jan Hoekstra are both set to miss out on Saturday with the former yet to feature this season due to a knee problem.

On the positive, the hosts have no fresh injury or suspension concerns and we expect Buijs to name an unchanged XI from last time out.

Ajax news

Remko Pasveer and Maarten Stekelenburg are sidelined through finger and hip injuries respectively, meaning that Andre Onana will continue between the sticks.

Sean Klaiber is currently nursing a long-term knee injury and the defender is not near to a return, while Brazilian Antony will remain on suspension for the Saturday’s contest.

Prediction and Odds

Grongigen enter the contest knowing that they won two of the most recent matches against Ajax at home, and will be confident to look for a positive result here.

However, Ajax will be looking to open up a five-point gap at the top, and we expect an away win or a draw.

Odds: 1 2.45 X 2.05 1 1.89