2020–21 FC Groningen season

FC Groningen 2020–21 football season

FC Groningen

2020–21 season

Chairman

Bert Middel

Manager

Danny Buijs

Stadium

Euroborg

Eredivisie

7th

KNVB Cup

Second round

Top goalscorer

League:
Jørgen Strand Larsen (9)
All:
Jørgen Strand Larsen (9)

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

← 2019–20

2021–22 →

All statistics correct as of 16 May 2021.

The 2020–21 season was the 105th season in existence of FC Groningen and the club's 21st consecutive season in the top flight of Dutch football. In addition to the domestic league, FC Groningen participated in this season's edition of the KNVB Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Players

First-team squad

As of 1 February 2021^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	NED	Sergio Padt
2	DF	SUR	Damil Dankerlui
3	DF	NED	Bart van Hintum
4	DF	NED	Wessel Dammers
5	DF	JPN	Ko Itakura (on loan from Manchester City)
6	MF	NED	Azor Matusiwa
7	MF	SWE	Ramon Pascal Lundqvist
8	MF	GER	Sam Schreck
9	FW	NOR	Jørgen Strand Larsen
10	FW	NED	Arjen Robben (captain)
11	FW	MAR	Mohamed El Hankouri
14	FW	NED	Patrick Joosten
15	FW	SWE	Gabriel Gudmundsson


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
17	DF	ESP	Miguel Ángel Leal (on loan from Villarreal)
18	MF	MAR	Ahmed El Messaoudi
19	FW	SWE	Paulos Abraham (on loan from AIK)
21	FW	NED	Alessio Da Cruz (on loan from Parma)
23	GK	NOR	Per Kristian Bråtveit (on loan from Djurgårdens)
25	GK	NED	Jan de Boer
26	MF	NED	Daniël van Kaam
31	MF	SVK	Tomáš Suslov
32	DF	NED	Mike te Wierik
33	FW	NED	Joël van Kaam
34	FW	NED	Kian Slor
37	FW	NED	Thijs Dallinga
48	DF	NED	Leonel Miguel

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
16	GK	NED	Jan Hoekstra (at Roda JC Kerkrade until 30 June 2021)
19	MF	DEN	Nicklas Strunck (at Esbjerg fB until 30 June 2021)
24	GK	NED	Nigel Bertrams (at PEC Zwolle until 30 June 2021)


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
29	FW	NED	Romano Postema (at Den Bosch until 30 June 2021)
—	DF	NED	Thomas Poll (at FC Dordrecht until 30 June 2021)

Transfers

In

No.	Pos	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date	Source
10	MF	Arjen Robben	Free agent	Free transfer	27 June 2020

Out

No.	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
15			TBD		1 July 2020

Pre-season and friendlies

Win Draw Loss

Groningen

Heracles Almelo

1 August 2020 Friendly	Groningen	1–0	Heracles Almelo	Groningen, Netherlands
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Slor 47'	Report		Stadium: Euroborg Referee: Danny Makkelie

Emmen

Groningen

11 August 2020 Friendly	Emmen	1–4	Groningen	Emmen, Netherlands
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Bijl 45'	Report	Hrustic 42' El Karbachi 60', 84' Šabani 87' (o.g.)	Stadium: De Oude Meerdijk

Groningen

PEC Zwolle

14 August 2020 Friendly	Groningen	0–2	PEC Zwolle	Groningen, Netherlands
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Ghoochannejhad 48', 92'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 1,400 Referee: Jeroen Manschot
Note: Match was played in two 60-minute halves.

FC Volendam

Groningen

21 August 2020 Friendly	FC Volendam	0–2	Groningen	Westwoud, Netherlands
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Balk 21' Absalem 58'	Stadium: VV Woudia

Almere City

Groningen

22 August 2020 Friendly	Almere City	1–1	Groningen	Almere, Netherlands
14:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Hammouti 26'	Report	Lundqvist 45'	Stadium: Mitsubishi Forklift Stadion

Werder Bremen

Groningen

29 August 2020 Friendly	Werder Bremen	4–0	Groningen	Lohne, Germany
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Sargent 10' Eggestein 15' Bittencourt 24' Chong 34'	Report		Stadium: Heinz-Dettmer-Stadion

Groningen

NEC Nijmegen

4 September 2020 Friendly	Groningen	3–3	NEC Nijmegen	Rolde, Netherlands
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Sportpark Boerbos

Groningen

Arminia Bielefeld

6 September 2020 Friendly	Groningen	1–1	Arminia Bielefeld	Groningen, Netherlands
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Robben 17'		Consbruch 22'	Stadium: Euroborg

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Eredivisie	13 September 2020	16 May 2021	Matchday 1	7th	34	14	8	12	40	37	+3	041.18
Eredivisie Play-offs	19 May 2021		Semi-finals	Semi-finals	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
KNVB Cup	2 December 2020	15 December 2020	First round	Second round	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	000.00
Total					36	14	8	14	41	40	+1	038.89

Source: Soccerway

Eredivisie

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
5	Feyenoord (O)	34	16	11	7	64	36	+28	59	Qualification for the European competition play-offs^[a]
6	Utrecht	34	13	14	7	52	41	+11	53
7	Groningen	34	14	8	12	40	37	+3	50
8	Sparta Rotterdam	34	13	8	13	49	48	+1	47
9	Heracles Almelo	34	12	8	14	42	53	−11	44

Source: Eredivisie,^[2] Soccerway^[3]
Rules for classification: Season in progress: 1) Most points won; 2) Less points lost; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Alphabetical order; End of season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off if relevant for deciding champion, relegation or participating in a European league, otherwise by draw. 8) Penalty shoot-out (only after a play-off)^[4]
(O) Play-off winners
Notes:

^ Winner of play-off will qualify to Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
34	14	8	12	40	37	+3	50	7	6	4	17	13	+4	7	2	8	23	24	−1

Source: Eredivisie

Results by round

Source: Eredivisie
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 24 July 2020.^[5]

Groningen v PSV

13 September 2020 1	Groningen	1–3	PSV	Groningen
16:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Dammers 1' Dankerlui 35' Lundqvist 39' Suslov 53' Padt 79'	Report	Gakpo 34', 87' Malen 57' Max 60' Teze 65'	Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 6,049 Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük

ADO Den Haag v Groningen

20 September 2020 2	ADO Den Haag	0–1	Groningen	The Hague
12:15 CEST (UTC+2)	Kramer 49'	Report	Pinas 23' (o.g.) Dammers 45'	Stadium: Cars Jeans Stadion Attendance: 3,378 Referee: Danny Makkelie

Twente v Groningen

25 September 2020 3	Twente	3–1	Groningen	Enschede
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Černý 22' Danilo 37' Jeremejeff 88'	Report	Van Hintum 42' El Messaoudi 52'	Stadium: De Grolsch Veste Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Sander van der Eijk

Groningen v Ajax

4 October 2020 4	Groningen	1–0	Ajax	Groningen
12:15 CEST (UTC+2)	Balk 49'	Report	Gravenberch 60'	Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Dennis Higler

Groningen v Utrecht

18 October 2020 5	Groningen	0–0	Utrecht	Groningen
16:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Dammers 11' Strand Larsen 59' El Messaoudi 64' Van Hintum 70' Matusiwa 85'	Report		Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeroen Manschot

Fortuna Sittard v Groningen

25 October 2020 6	Fortuna Sittard	1–3	Groningen	Sittard
12:15 CET (UTC+1)	Tekie 25' Seuntjens 54' (pen.)	Report	Larsen 6', 28' Dammers 52' Van Hintum 79'	Stadium: Fortuna Sittard Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Pol van Boekel

Groningen v VVV-Venlo

31 October 2020 7	Groningen	2–1	VVV-Venlo	Groningen
20:00 CET (UTC+1)	Joosten 26' Strand Larsen 48' Gudmundsson 88'	Report	Giakoumakis 90+5'	Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Allard Lindhout

Feyenoord v Groningen

8 November 2020 8	Feyenoord	2–0	Groningen	Rotterdam
14:30 CET	Geertruida 50' Berghuis 82' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: De Kuip Attendance: 0 Referee: Danny Makkelie

Groningen v Vitesse

21 November 2020 9	Groningen	1–1	Vitesse	Groningen
20:00 CET (UTC+1)	Joosten 29' Van Hintum 54' Dammers 55'	Report	Bero 33' Openda 45'	Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Björn Kuipers

Groningen v Willem II

29 November 2020 10	Groningen	1–0	Willem II	Groningen
14:30 CET (UTC+1)	El Messaoudi 63'	Report	Sağlam 45+1'	Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof

AZ v Groningen

6 December 2020 11	AZ	1–2	Groningen	Alkmaar
14:30 CET (UTC+1)	Midtsjø 8' 57' Koopmeiners 21', 90+5' Martins Indi 78' 85' Stengs 90+1' Wijndal 90+5'	Report	El Messaoudi 69', 74' Joosten 79' El Hankouri 90+5'	Stadium: AFAS Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük

Groningen v RKC Waalwijk

12 December 2020 12	Groningen	2–0	RKC Waalwijk	Groningen
16:30 CET (UTC+1)	El Messaoudi 54' Van Kaam 76'	Report		Stadium: Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Jannick van der Laan

Sparta Rotterdam v Groningen

19 December 2020 13	Sparta Rotterdam	2–3	Groningen	Rotterdam
16:30 CET (UTC+1)	Thy 36' Pinto 71' Burger 79'	Report	Dammers 16' Larsen 53', 73'	Stadium: Het Kasteel Attendance: 0 Referee: Danny Makkelie

Groningen v Heracles Almelo

23 December 2020 14	Groningen	0–1	Heracles Almelo	Groningen
20:00 CET (UTC+1)		Report	Szőke 78'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Allard Lindhout

Utrecht v Groningen

9 January 2021 15	Utrecht	2–2	Groningen	Utrecht
21:00 CET (UTC+1)	Ramselaar 39' Kerk 42', 90+4' Janssen 69'	Report	Joosten 16' Larsen 21' Suslov 55'	Stadium: Stadion Galgenwaard Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeroen Manschot

Willem II v Groningen

14 January 2021 16	Willem II	2–3	Groningen	Tilburg
21:00 CET (UTC+1)	Nunnely 60' Dammers 79' (o.g.)	Report	El Hankouri 50', 90+3' Itakura 84', 90+2'	Stadium: Koning Willem II Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Marc Nagtegaal

Groningen v Twente

17 January 2021 17	Groningen	2–2	Twente	Groningen
14:30 CET (UTC+1)	El Messaoudi 47' Schreck 64' Larsen 66'	Report	Đumić 12' Van Leeuwen 22', 53' Abass 78'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Blom

Vitesse v Groningen

23 January 2021 18	Vitesse	1–0	Groningen	Arnhem
18:45 CET (UTC+1)	Bazoer 36' Tannane 73' Vroegh 79'	Report	El Messaoudi 45' Da Cruz 58'	Stadium: GelreDome Attendance: 0 Referee: Björn Kuipers

Groningen v ADO Den Haag

26 January 2021 19	Groningen	3–0	ADO Den Haag	Groningen
21:00 CET (UTC+1)	Lundqvist 18' Larsen 43' Da Cruz 68'	Report	Bourard 38' Ćatić 76'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Rob Dieperink

Heracles Almelo v Groningen

30 January 2021 20	Heracles Almelo	1–0	Groningen	Almelo
16:30 CET (UTC+1)	Burgzorg 24'	Report	Da Cruz 46'	Stadium: Erve Asito Attendance: 0 Referee: Pol van Boekel

Groningen v PEC Zwolle

13 February 2021 22	Groningen	1–0	PEC Zwolle	Groningen
20:00 CET (UTC+1)	Larsen 16' Te Wierik 48'	Report	Pherai 51' Clement 59'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeroen Manschot

SC Heerenveen v Groningen

21 February 2021 23	SC Heerenveen	1–1	Groningen	Heerenveen
14:30 CET (UTC+1)	De Jong 43'	Report	Suslov 82'	Stadium: Abe Lenstra Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Blom

Groningen v Feyenoord

24 February 2021 21	Groningen	0–0	Feyenoord	Groningen
18:45 CET (UTC+1)		Report		Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Martin van den Kerkhof

Groningen v Fortuna Sittard

28 February 2021 24	Groningen	1–0	Fortuna Sittard	Groningen
14:30 CET (UTC+1)	El Hankouri 29' Schreck 34' Abraham 50' Dammers 90+2'	Report		Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Jannick van der Laan

Ajax v Groningen

7 March 2021 25	Ajax	3–1	Groningen	Amsterdam
12:15 CET (UTC+1)	Gravenberch 6' Kudus 48' Haller 54' Tadić 77' (pen.) Klaassen 83'	Report	Te Wierik 73' El Messaoudi 84'	Stadium: Johan Cruyff Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Dennis Higler

Groningen v Emmen

13 March 2021 26	Groningen	1–1	Emmen	Groningen
20:00 CET (UTC+1)	Padt 7' Da Cruz 60'	Report	Peña 33' Bijl 38'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Allard Lindhout

RKC Waalwijk v Groningen

20 March 2021 27	RKC Waalwijk	3–1	Groningen	Waalwijk
21:00 CET (UTC+1)	Oosting 5', 15' Touba 66' Sow 86'	Report	El Messaoudi 33' Da Cruz 72' Itakura 90'	Stadium: Mandemakers Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Edwin van de Graaf

VVV-Venlo v Groningen

3 April 2021 28	VVV-Venlo	0–1	Groningen	Venlo
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Matusiwa 7' 20' El Hankouri 87' Da Cruz 89'	Stadium: De Koel Attendance: 0 Referee: Bas Nijhuis

Groningen v SC Heerenveen

11 April 2021 29	Groningen	0–2	SC Heerenveen	Groningen
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Te Wierik 42'	Report	H. Veerman 71' (pen.) Halilović 86'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Dennis Higler

PSV v Groningen

24 April 2021 30	PSV	1–0	Groningen	Eindhoven
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Zahavi 64' (pen.) Dumfries 72'	Report	Te Wierik 59' Dammers 62' Da Cruz 76'	Stadium: Philips Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeroen Manschot

Groningen v Sparta Rotterdam

2 May 2021 31	Groningen	1–2	Sparta Rotterdam	Groningen
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)	El Hankouri 58' Lundqvist 87'	Report	Harroui 27' Meijers 37' Beugelsdijk 56'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Danny Makkelie

Emmen v Groningen

9 May 2021 32	Emmen	0–4	Groningen	Emmen
12:15 CEST (UTC+2)	Bijl 27' Vlak 53'	Report	Van Hintum 28', 55' Da Cruz 52', 62' Lundqvist 55' Abraham 81'	Stadium: De Oude Meerdijk Attendance: 0 Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük

Groningen v AZ

13 May 2021 33	Groningen	0–0	AZ	Groningen
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Itakura 68' Te Wierik 72' Van Hintum 80'	Report	Svensson 70'	Stadium: Euroborg Attendance: 0 Referee: Allard Lindhout

PEC Zwolle v Groningen

16 May 2021 34	PEC Zwolle	1–0	Groningen	Zwolle
14:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Itakura 80' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: MAC³PARK Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Richard Martens

European competition play-offs

Utrecht v Groningen

19 May 2021 Semi-finals	Utrecht	1–0	Groningen	Utrecht
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Boussaid 20' Gustafson 77' Van de Streek 84'	Report	Itakura 17' Dankerlui 23' Lundqvist 62' El Hankouri 75'	Stadium: Stadion Galgenwaard Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Danny Makkelie

KNVB Cup

SV TEC v Groningen

2 December 2020 First round	SV TEC	Bye	Groningen	Tiel
19:45 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Sportpark De Lok

Emmen v Groningen

15 December 2020 Second round	Emmen	2–1	Groningen	Emmen
21:00 CET (UTC+1)	Bijl 60' Jansen 67'	Report	Lundqvist 27'	Stadium: De Oude Meerdijk Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Blom

Statistics

Goalscorers

References

^ "Selectie". FC Groningen. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
^ "Eredivisie 2020/2021 - Standings". eredivisie.nl. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^ "Eredivisie 2020/2021 - Tables". soccerway.com. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^ "Reglementen betaald voetbal seizoen 2020-21" [Regulations profesional football season 2020-21] (PDF) (in Dutch). KNVB. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
^ "Programma Eredivisie 2020/21 definitief vastgesteld | Eredivisie". eredivisie.nl. 24 July 2020.

External links

Official website

v t e Football Club Groningen
History	History European football
Grounds	Stadion Oosterpark (1971–2005) Euroborg (2006–present)
Football teams	First team
Notable matches	1989 KNVB Cup final 2015 KNVB Cup final 2015 Johan Cruyff Shield
Rivalries	Derby of the North (with sc Heerenveen) Groningse derby (with SC Veendam)
Seasons	2006–07 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Category:FC Groningen

2020–21 in Dutch football

« 2019–20

2021–22 »

League competitions	Eredivisie Eerste Divisie Tweede Divisie Derde Divisie Hoofdklasse Eerste Klasse Women's Eredivisie
Cup competitions	TOTO KNVB Cup Final 2021 Johan Cruyff Shield KNVB Women's Cup
European competitions	Champions League Europa League Women's Champions League
National team	UEFA Euro 2020 (Group C) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (Group G)

Club seasons
Eredivisie	ADO Den Haag Ajax AZ FC Emmen Feyenoord Fortuna Sittard FC Groningen sc Heerenveen Heracles Almelo PEC Zwolle PSV RKC Waalwijk Sparta Rotterdam FC Twente FC Utrecht Vitesse VVV-Venlo Willem II
Eerste Divisie	Almere City FC SC Cambuur FC Den Bosch FC Dordrecht FC Eindhoven Excelsior Go Ahead Eagles De Graafschap Helmond Sport Jong Ajax Jong AZ Jong PSV Jong FC Utrecht MVV Maastricht NAC Breda N.E.C. Roda JC Kerkrade Telstar TOP Oss FC Volendam
Women's Eredivisie	ADO Den Haag Ajax VV Alkmaar Excelsior sc Heerenveen PEC Zwolle PSV FC Twente