Eredivisie: Ajax Bounce Back To Thrash FC Groningen In Seven-goal Thriller

Brandt double helps Ajax to first win in Groningen since 

Julian Brandt scored twice as Ajax recovered from a midweek European setback to beat FC Groningen 5-2 in the Eredivisie.

Five-star Ajax overwhelm Groningen to return to winning ways...

Ajax bounced back from their midweek defeat to Hajduk Split with a 5-2 victory over FC Groningen, sealing their first win in Groningen in three years.

Ajax boss Michel Sanchez made six changes following Thursday's disappointing 2-1 Conference League loss to Hajduk Split, with Oscar Gloukh, Marcos Leonardo and Julian Brandt forming a new front three, while Jorthy Mokio came into midfield and Dies Janse, Owen Wijndal and Lucas Rosa all started in defence.

Away at FC Groningen, where Ajax had not won since 2023, the Amsterdam giants made a fast start, with Marcos Leonardo taking the initiative, getting himself into space, but Etienne Vaessen rushed off his line to meet him and later brought the striker down for a penalty.

A brief discussion between Marcos Leonardo and captain Davy Klaassen over who would take the spot-kick was won by Klaassen, but the veteran failed to open the scoring as Vaessen tipped the ball away from the bottom corner.

Vaessen was beaten a little later after all, as Owen Wijndal won possession in the final third and slipped Julian Brandt through, with the German bursting into the Groningen box to beat the goalkeeper with a fierce effort.

Shouts for a Groningen penalty led to a VAR check, but Klaassen's challenge on Brynjolfur Willumsson was not deemed reckless enough to award a spot-kick.

Instead, Ajax doubled their advantage when 19-year-old Aaron Bouwman tapped in the rebound after Davy Klaassen's header was parried.

Ajax emerged from the break lethargically and soon conceded their first goal of the afternoon, as Marcos Leonardo lost possession in his own half to gift Groningen and Willumsson a way back into the game.

Davy Klaassen quickly restored the two-goal cushion, but a VAR check ruled Oscar Gloukh offside in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.

Instead, Julian Brandt made it 3-1, calmly rolling the ball past Vaessen after an hour.

Youngster Jorthy Mokio further extended Ajax's lead from a rebound in the 70th minute and made it 5-1 just five minutes later.

Dutch U21 international Thom van Bergen then put the final score on the board in the 83rd minute, capitalising on a rebound.

Check the final goal of the evening now in the Ajax App 📲 https://t.co/1F9c5EglHL

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 18, 2026

With a chance to add some late consolation for the hosts, Van Bergen saw his penalty saved by Marc ter Stegen, putting the exclamation mark on an emphatic victory for Ajax.

Having bounced back from their European setback, Ajax now turn their attention to hosting Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, October 22nd, at 21:00 CEST.