ADO The Hague vs Groningen – News and Probable Lineups

After a five-year absence from Eredivisie action at WerkTalent Stadion, ADO Den Haag is set to host Groningen for matchday two of the top flight.

Following a disappointing start in their return to top-tier football, Den Haag will look to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar with a victory over one of the teams that won on the opening matchday.

Match overview

In the first half against Alkmaar, Robin Peter’s squad managed to hold their ground, appearing competent, even though it seemed a matter of time before they would give up a goal.

Ultimately, their defense collapsed around the 60-minute mark, leading to a second goal shortly thereafter and resulting in a 2-0 defeat at AFAS Stadion.

Now back at home on Sunday, the newly promoted team will be drawing on their impressive home record, having garnered 15 victories in 19 matches during their previous campaign as they returned to top-tier football.

Notably, Peter’s team only dropped points in four matches throughout that stretch, all occurring in a month-long winless stint in Den Haag from December to January.

This unfavorable sequence was quickly followed by an impressive six-match winning run at home, where they scored 18 goals and conceded just three, achieving four clean sheets in front of their supporters.

Maintaining this winning momentum will pose a greater challenge due to the significantly higher level of competition in the Eredivisie, and the matchup against Groningen may test their resilience at WerkTalent Stadion.

Dick Lukkien’s side notably had the sixth-best away performance in the Eredivisie during the 2025-26 season, compared to their 11th best home results, underlining the Pride of the North’s effectiveness while traveling.

This season, FC Groningen aims to improve their home results, and their first win against FC Utrecht in the opening week sets a positive tone as they build on their prior season.

With a 2-1 victory to kick off the league, Groningen has now recorded three consecutive wins in the Eredivisie after managing just one point across the previous three matches last season.

They head to Sunday’s encounter as one of eight teams with no losses following the opening week, looking to continue that trend against the returning Den Haag side.

Having not registered back-to-back away league victories since September-October of last year, it remains to be seen if the Pride of the North can replicate their May triumph against Heracles with another success in Den Haag.

Team News

For the matchup this weekend, ADO Den Haag is likely to be without Donat Barany and Cameron Peupion, with the return date for Barany remaining uncertain due to his knee concerns.

Juho Kilo was arguably Den Haag’s standout outfield performer in the loss to AZ, although he is still seeking to impose his influence in the top league after providing eight assists during the promotion campaign.

Meanwhile, Evan Rottier, who scored eight goals in the promotion season while assisting seven, had a quieter outing during the defeat in Alkmaar, highlighting the challenges ahead for the hosts this term.

On Groningen’s side, Thom van Bergen and Brynjolfur Darri Willumsson were the scorers last time, while David van der Werff played a key role in the buildup in their victory over FC Utrecht.

Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen made a significant impact, producing an impressive seven saves to keep the Cupfighters at bay and contributing with two created chances.

However, Marco Rente may not feature on Sunday after being substituted 30 minutes into the previous match, possibly joining Malcolm Jeng, Oskar Zawada (knock), and Stije Resink (knee) on the sidelines.

ADO Den Haag probable starting XI:

Nikiema; Hocke, Mulder, Waem, Sylla; Van Mieghem, The Brown, Kilo, The Horseman; Rottier, Eduardo

Groningen probable starting XI:

Vaessen; Schreuders, Blokzijl, Van der Laan, Prins; The Young, Country; Van der Werff, Van Bergen, Clement; Willumsson

As ADO Den Haag aims to recover and emulate their remarkable home form from last season, they face a challenging challenge against a confident Groningen squad coming off a win on the opening day.

With Vaessen proving to be a tough opponent in goal for the visitors, the newly promoted hosts may have to settle for a hard-earned draw in front of their home fans.