Updated 6 November 2026.
AZ welcome FC Groningen to the AFAS Stadion on Sunday 8 November, with kick-off at 15:45 UK. AZ come in having lost their last three games in all competitions, while Groningen's matches rarely stay quiet: both teams have scored in 91% of their Eredivisie games this season, the highest rate in the division.
AZ sit 5th in the Eredivisie with 20 points from 11 games, Groningen are 8th on 15. The gap is five points. AZ have scored 20 goals and conceded 13, Groningen 26 and 24.
AZ lost 1-2 at home to Juventus in the Europa League on 5 November, after going down 1-0 at Ajax in the league on 31 October and losing 2-0 at home to FC Twente six days before that. The last win came in the Europa League, 4-0 away at Ararat, and before it AZ drew 2-2 at SC Cambuur.
The defence is the strength. AZ have conceded the 3rd fewest goals per game in the Eredivisie at 1.18, and their shots on target average of 6.27 is the 5th most. They also take the most corners in the league, at 7.55 a game, and commit the 3rd most fouls at 12.27. Only 36% of their games have gone over 2.5 goals, the lowest rate of any side.
Groningen lost 2-3 at home to Sparta on 1 November, a week after drawing 2-2 at NEC Nijmegen and the week before that suffering a 2-5 home defeat to Ajax. Before that came a 5-1 win at Excelsior and a 3-0 home win over PEC Zwolle. They score 2.36 goals a game, the 5th most, and ship 2.18, which is the 7th most. Both teams have scored in 91% of their games and 91% have gone over 2.5 goals, both the highest rates in the league.
AZ possible starting lineup:
De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, De Wit; Koopmeiners, Kwakman, Patati; Byskov, Daal, Meerdink
FC Groningen possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Hateboer, Rente, Csinger, Blokzijl; De Jonge, Clement, Schreuders; Ondrejka, Van Bergen, Willumsson
Brynjólfur Willumsson has had a shot in every one of Groningen's 11 league games and is 1.03 at bet365 to make it 12. He has averaged 2.2 shots a game over the run.
Mexx Meerdink is the AZ equivalent, with a shot in 11 straight league games and an average of 3 shots a game over that run. He has also had a shot on target in five straight games, and Ladbrokes offer 1.22 on that continuing.
Thom van Bergen has had a shot on target in five straight games and averages 2.4 a game over that run. He is 1.53 at Ladbrokes to do it again.
Weslley Patati has had a shot in 10 consecutive league games for AZ and is 1.02 at bet365, while Tika de Jonge has had a shot in five straight for Groningen and is 1.40 at bet365.
At the back, Wouter Goes has made a tackle in each of 10 straight league games for AZ, averaging 2.1 tackles a game over that run.
Our model backs AZ, who are 1.55 at Ladbrokes to win, and gives them a 59% chance of taking all three points. The draw is 4.50 at bet365 and Groningen are 5.50 at the same firm. Both teams to score is 1.50 at bet365 and over 2.5 goals is 1.40.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| AZ to win | 1.55 (Ladbrokes) | 59% |
| Draw | 4.50 (bet365) | 22% |
| FC Groningen to win | 5.50 (bet365) | 19% |
| Both teams to score | 1.50 (bet365) | 62% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.40 (bet365) | 65% |
We expect 2.16 goals from AZ and 1.17 from Groningen. 1-1 is the likeliest single score at just under 10%, so a draw is in play, though we make AZ clear favourites overall. 2-1 is almost level with it, and 2-0 follows. Our prediction is AZ 1-1 FC Groningen.
AZ vs FC Groningen kicks off at 15:45 UK on Sunday 8 November 2026 at the AFAS Stadion, in the 2026/27 Eredivisie regular season. AZ are 5th on 20 points from 11 games and Groningen 8th on 15, so the two sides are five points apart.
Our prediction for AZ vs FC Groningen in the 2026/27 Eredivisie is a 1-1 draw, the likeliest single score at 10%, although we give AZ a 59% chance to win, against 22% for the draw and 19% for Groningen.
AZ are the favourites against FC Groningen in the 2026/27 Eredivisie, priced at 1.55 at Ladbrokes, with our model giving them a 59% chance of winning against 19% for Groningen. The draw is 4.50 at bet365.
Our model gives a 62% chance that both teams score in AZ vs FC Groningen in the 2026/27 Eredivisie, and bet365 offer 1.50. Groningen have seen both sides score in 91% of their league games this season, the highest rate in the division.
Ahead of AZ vs FC Groningen in the 2026/27 Eredivisie, Brynjólfur Willumsson of FC Groningen has had a shot in 11 straight league games, and Mexx Meerdink of AZ matches that run, averaging 3 shots a game. Willumsson is 1.03 at bet365 to shoot again.
Ahead of AZ vs FC Groningen on Sunday 8 November, AZ are 5th in the 2026/27 Eredivisie with 20 points from 11 games, and FC Groningen are 8th with 15 points from 11, a gap of five points. AZ have scored 20 goals and conceded 13, Groningen 26 and 24.
Predicted lineups for AZ vs FC Groningen in the 2026/27 Eredivisie on Sunday 8 November 2026: AZ may start De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, De Wit; Koopmeiners, Kwakman, Patati; Byskov, Daal, Meerdink. FC Groningen may start Vaessen; Hateboer, Rente, Csinger, Blokzijl; De Jonge, Clement, Schreuders; Ondrejka, Van Bergen, Willumsson.