After drawing 0-0 in the first leg, Groningen host Aberdeen looking to book a place in the next round of the Europa League.
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Thursday will see European football return to the Euroborg for the first time since 2007 as Groningen go searching for the win that will see them through to face Spanish side Real Sociedad in the next round. Ticket’s are nearly sold out for the game, and the home side will be counting on the 22,000 fans to cheer them to victory.
Last week Groningen were cautious going forward, but with Aberdeen only needing a score draw to progress, the Dutch side will have to show more attacking impetus in front of a packed out home crowd.
Coach Edwin van de Looi showed his respect for opponents Aberdeen in his press conference, and knows it will be a tough tie.
He said, “”We are playing against a very tough and well organized team. They also have a few handy guys.”
“There’s everything to play for and in the first game it was very close. Aberdeen is a great team.”
There are no injury worries for Groningen ahead of the game, and they will likely line-up exactly as they did in the last game.
Likely Groningen line-up: Padt, Hateboer, Burnet, Botteghin, Kappelhof, Lindgren, Kieftenbeld, Chery, Van der Velden, Kostic, Hoesen
Aberdeen may also choose the exact same line-up as they did last week, although coach Derek McInnes may swap striker Adam Rooney for David Goodwillie.
Possible Aberdeen line-up: Langfield, Logan, Jack, Anderson, Reynolds, Robson, Flood, Hayes, Pawlett, McGinn, Rooney
Groningen are usually strong at home, losing only three league games at the Euroborg last season, and they should be too strong for Aberdeen. Utrecht bowed out of the competition at this stage last season, and its important for Dutch football that Groningen don’t suffer the same fate.
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