Feyenoord can look back on an excellent week. After a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the group stage of the Europa League, the team from Rotterdam won 2-0 against FC Groningen on Sunday afternoon. The team of trainer Dick Advocaat saw a goal from Mark Diemers be rejected before the break, but shortly after the break Lutsharel Geertruida signed for the opening goal. Steven Berghuis determined the final score from the penalty spot in the final phase.

Just before kick-off, Feyenoord had to deal with a setback. Justin Bijlow was injured in the warm-up and was replaced by Nick Marsman, who had to take action more often than desired for the team from Rotterdam in the first half. The home team hardly appeared in the play in the opening phase; it was the visitors who called the shots and got the best chances. Remco Balk was the closest with a devastating blow to the crossbar. On the other hand, Bryan Linssen appeared to score, but he committed a foul and saw his goal rightly rejected. As the first half progressed, Feyenoord got into the game better and the game moved to half of the visitors. Just before half time, Tyrell Malacia was pushed into the depth on the left flank and put the ball back in the penalty area on the incoming Mark Diemers. The midfielder scored, but saw his goal rejected after intervention by the VAR. Linssen was in the way of Groningen goalkeeper Sergio Padt and so the Rotterdam party was canceled.

Shortly after the break, Feyenoord was able to cheer again and this time the goal was approved. Lutsharel Geertruida hit the head from a corner by Steven Berghuis. He jumped higher than anyone and left Padt without a chance. It was the second goal of the Feyenoord talent in four days, as he also scored against CSKA Moscow on Thursday. Feyenoord was unbeaten in the last twelve home matches with Groningen in the Eredivisie and thanks to Geertruida’s goal, the Advocaat team was well on its way to expanding that series. With 25 minutes left on the clock, switches on the Groningen side were implemented by Adrie Poldervaart, who was ultimately responsible on Sunday in the absence of Danny Buijs. The head coach was not there in De Kuip due to ‘sad private circumstances’, the club reported. With the input of Mohamed El Hankouri, Joël van Kaam and Tomás Suslov, Groningen went on the hunt for the equalizer.

The implemented changes did not have the desired effect, because the best chance was twenty minutes before time for Feyenoord. Malacia broke through on the left flank and hit the post hard. Groningen escaped a greater backlog there. Feyenoord continued to control the game and the 0-2 was in the air before the 1-1. Five minutes before the end, the game was definitively closed by the team from Rotterdam. Damil Dankerlui brought down Haps in the penalty area and thus deprived him of a scoring opportunity. The Groningen-back was sent off the field with a red card and from eleven meters, Berghuis shot the ball untenable against the ropes. With one man more, Feyenoord got a big chance of a goal via Orkun Kökcü, but Groningen was spared more suffering. With the win, Feyenoord comes to eighteen points and climbs to third place, and is three points behind leader Ajax.