Groningen will aim to record their first Europa League win on Thursday when they host Slovan Liberec at the Euroborg.
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Edwin van de Looi’s side earned their first point in the competition when they held Liberec to a 1-1 draw, and they will hope to go one better on Thursday when they once again meet the Czech side.
Groningen go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over PEC Zwolle at the weekend, but they will be without key players Mimoun Mahi (injury) and Michael de Leeuw (suspension) for the tie on Thursday, while Hans Hateboer is a doubt. Van de Looi will likely turn to Danny Hoesen to lead the line after the striker netted the goal which earned Groningen the draw two weeks ago.
Possible Groningen line-up: Padt, Kappelhof, Burnet, Larsen, Reijnen, Tibbling, Drost, Maduro, Rusnak, Linssen, Hoesen
Like Groningen, opponents Slovan Liberec also tasted victory at the weekend with a 2-1 win over Banik Ostrava, and they know a win in the Euroborg will put them in a good position to qualify from the group.
Possible Liberec line-up: Koubec, Svejdik, Bartosak, Coufal, Pokorny, Folprecht, Shala, Pavelka, Efremov, Sural, Bakos
Groningen can still pull off an unlikely run to the top two in the group, but with tough ties at home to group leaders Braga and a trip to Marseille to come, they need to ensure a victory over Slovan Liberec. Groningen matched the Czech side during the reverse fixture two weeks ago, and they should be confident of a victory if they play the way they did against PEC Zwolle at the weekend.
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