FC Groningen 2-5 Ajax result, stats and report

Ajax dominated every statistical category but could not hold on, with Excelsior scoring twice from minimal chances to earn a 2-2 draw at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Connor Maguire gives his verdict on a result that has no excuse.

PEC Zwolle silenced the home crowd at FC Groningen with a thoroughly professional 3-0 victory, goals from Thom van Bergen, Jorg Schreuders and Tygo Land doing the damage in a display that was far more controlled than their recent results suggested.

Ajax put Willem II to the sword with a commanding 5-1 win at home, with two goals before the break setting the platform for a second-half rout that exposed every weakness in the visitors' defensive standards.

Ajax put five past Fortuna Sittard at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion, with Julian Brandt, Thilo Kehrer, Davy Klaassen and Kasper Dolberg among the scorers in a dominant away display. Fortuna's consolation from substitute Anthony Descotte was nothing more than a footnote.

GO Ahead Eagles dominated every statistic that mattered but could only rescue a 1-1 draw against FC Groningen at home, with Søren Tengstedt equalising in the 82nd minute after Brynjólfur Willumsson's first-half goal threatened to hand the visitors all three points.

FC Groningen have conceded in every single Eredivisie match in their last ten, and Ajax arrive on Sunday having scored seventeen goals in their last five. This is not a good combination if you are from Groningen.

Hajduk Split have not lost a Conference League match in four attempts, but Ajax arrive in Croatia having scored freely in every single game they have played. Something has to give on Thursday night.

Ajax host NEC Nijmegen at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday evening knowing their defensive standards have been nowhere near good enough. NEC arrive having conceded in every single Eredivisie match in their last ten, so something has to give.