FC Groningen 2-1 FC Utrecht: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Eredivisie Matchday 1 · Sunday 9 August 2026 · Euroborg, Groningen · referee J. Kooij · full time
Full time: FC Groningen 2-1 FC Utrecht
FC Groningen won 2-1 at home to FC Utrecht in Eredivisie Matchday 1 on Sunday 9 August 2026. The goals: Brynjólfur Willumsson 8', Thom van Bergen 48', Adrian Blake 80'.
How FC Groningen won it
Brynjólfur Willumsson put FC Groningen ahead in the 8th minute. Thom van Bergen made it 2-0 to FC Groningen in the 48th minute, set up by Jorg Schreuders. Adrian Blake made it 2-1 to FC Utrecht in the 80th minute, set up by Davy van den Berg.
It was 1-0 at half-time.
The referee, J. Kooij, showed 2 yellow cards: 0 to FC Groningen and 2 to FC Utrecht.
FC Groningen: D. Lukkien, 4-2-3-1 · FC Utrecht: A. Correia, 4-3-3.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.65 for FC Groningen and 1.57 for FC Utrecht.
FC Groningen had 5 shots on target, FC Utrecht 7.
FC Groningen's goalkeeper made 6 saves.
FC Groningen had 59% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
FC Groningen came into it with 10 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 2.4 and conceding 2.1 a match, with 1.60 expected goals for and 2.02 against, and had won 40% of their matches.
FC Utrecht came into it with 10 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 1.7 and conceding 2.7 a match, with 1.42 expected goals for and 1.82 against, and had won 30% of their matches.
FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht: the match in numbers
| FC Groningen | Match statistics | FC Utrecht |
|---|---|---|
| 59% | Ball possession | 41% |
| 1.65 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.57 |
| 16 | Total shots | 14 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 7 |
| 2 | Big chances | 4 |
| 446 | Total passes | 305 |
| 82% | Pass accuracy | 73% |
| 5 | Corners | 1 |
| 12 | Fouls | 17 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
| 12 | Tackles | 20 |
| 6 | Saves | 3 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 2 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Etienne Vaessen (FC Groningen), rated 8.3 by Sportmonks.
FC Groningen
- Etienne Vaessen 8.3
- Thom van Bergen 8.0 1 goal
- Brynjólfur Willumsson 7.7 1 goal
- David van der Werff 7.5
- Tygo Land 7.2
FC Utrecht
- Arthur Zagré 7.3
- Adrian Blake 7.2 1 goal
- Davy van den Berg 7.1 1 assist
- Niklas Vesterlund 7.0
- Guus Offerhaus 6.9
The lowest-rated starter was Ángel Alarcón at 5.8. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- FC Groningen: FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam Sunday 1 November 2026 · Eredivisie
- FC Utrecht: Telstar vs FC Utrecht Sunday 1 November 2026 · Eredivisie
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht
What was the score in FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht?
FC Groningen 2-1 FC Utrecht (half-time 1-0), Eredivisie, Sunday 9 August 2026.
Who scored in FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht?
Brynjólfur Willumsson 8', Thom van Bergen 48', Adrian Blake 80'.
Did Moneyball predict FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht?
Etienne Vaessen, rated 8.3 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed FC Groningen vs FC Utrecht?
J. Kooij.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.