FC Groningen will restart its VriendenLoterij Eredivisie campaign this Sunday away against Excelsior at Woudestein in Kralingen, RTV Noord reported. The fixture for round eight of the 2026/2027 season is scheduled for a 16.45 local time kickoff (14.45 UTC) on October 11, 2026, and will be broadcast live on ESPN, according to match details outlined by bet365.
Squad Preparations During the International Break
The extended break from club football provided the technical staff of FC Groningen valuable time to work through injury concerns and recharge energy levels, head coach Dick Lukkien explained on the official FC Groningen website. While supporters experienced a lengthy wait without matches, Lukkien noted that combining two international periods allowed the squad to benefit from extra rest and specific training build-ups.
Midfielder Travis Hernes has made significant progress in his recovery from injury, but the coaching staff has opted not to rush his return, scheduling him to make minutes with the Under-21 side this weekend instead. Forward Ryan Metu remains a game-time decision for the visiting side.
Recent Form and Tactical Outlook at Woudestein
Both teams enter the fixture positioned closely in the goalscoring charts, with each side having netted 15 times so far this campaign, though Groningen has conceded 13 goals, bet365 noted. Excelsior comes into the weekend following a resilient run of results, including a 2-2 draw against Ajax where Lennard Hartjes and Aymen Sliti found the net, alongside draws with NEC and a narrow 1-2 defeat to FC Utrecht.
Tactically, both clubs are projected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Excelsior relies on attacking threats such as Aymen Sliti and David Garden—who share the team lead with three goals apiece—while FC Groningen looks to forwards Thom van Bergen and Brynjolfur Andersen Willumsson to provide the offensive output, per bet365.
Match Officials and Broadcast Information
The KNVB has appointed Richard Martens as the referee for Sunday afternoon’s encounter at Woudestein. Coverage of the match begins at 16.45 local time, with live television broadcasts provided by ESPN, and television summaries scheduled for later viewing on NPO 1.
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