FC Groningen 2-3 Sparta Rotterdam: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Sparta Rotterdam won it

Jacob Ondrejka put FC Groningen ahead in the 1st minute, set up by Brynjólfur Willumsson. Sparta Rotterdam levelled at 1-1 in the 15th minute through Cedric Hatenboer, set up by Marvin Young. Sparta Rotterdam turned it round: Milan Zonneveld made it 1-2 in the 25th minute. FC Groningen levelled at 2-2 in the 29th minute through Thom van Bergen, set up by Hans Hateboer. Andrej Kostic made it 2-3 to Sparta Rotterdam in the 85th minute.

It was 2-2 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

The lead changed hands once.

The referee, M. Vos, showed 4 yellow cards: 1 to FC Groningen and 3 to Sparta Rotterdam.

FC Groningen: D. Lukkien, 4-2-3-1 · Sparta Rotterdam: R. Meijer, 5-4-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

The prediction was right. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Over 3.25, and on 2-3 it was right.

The estimate's most likely result was a FC Groningen win at 46%; a Sparta Rotterdam win, at 31%, is what happened. Its single most likely score was 1-1 (10%).

The match had far more goals than expected: the estimate was about 3.5 goals and there were 5.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 67%; with 5 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 68%; both did, in line with the estimate.

The pre-match consensus had a FC Groningen win at 50%, the same lean as Moneyball.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-11-01, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.01 for FC Groningen and 2.28 for Sparta Rotterdam.

The run of play itself went against the pre-match reading: Moneyball expected FC Groningen to create more, and Sparta Rotterdam did.

FC Groningen had 10 shots on target, Sparta Rotterdam 4.

Sparta Rotterdam's goalkeeper made 8 saves.

FC Groningen had 59% of the ball, but Sparta Rotterdam took the points.

Where the two sides stood before this match

FC Groningen came into it with 12 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 2.4 and conceding 2.3 a match, with 1.67 expected goals for and 2.08 against, and had won 33% of their matches.

Sparta Rotterdam came into it with 12 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 2.4 a match, with 1.71 expected goals for and 2.05 against, and had won 25% of their matches.

FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Jacob Ondrejka (FC Groningen), rated 8.3 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.

FC Groningen

• Jacob Ondrejka 8.3 1 goal
• Jorg Schreuders 7.3
• Thom van Bergen 7.3 1 goal
• Brynjólfur Willumsson 7.2 1 assist
• Pelle Clement 7.1

Sparta Rotterdam

• Michael Brouwer 7.6
• Milan Zonneveld 7.3 1 goal
• Marvin Young 7.1 1 assist
• Andrej Kostic 7.0 1 goal
• Cedric Hatenboer 7.0 1 goal

The lowest-rated starter was Marco Rente at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• FC Groningen: FC Groningen vs SC Heerenveen Saturday 21 November 2026 · Eredivisie
• Sparta Rotterdam: Sparta Rotterdam vs AZ Alkmaar Sunday 22 November 2026 · Eredivisie

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam

What was the score in FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam?

FC Groningen 2-3 Sparta Rotterdam (half-time 2-2), Eredivisie, Sunday 1 November 2026.

Who scored in FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam?

Jacob Ondrejka 1', Cedric Hatenboer 15', Milan Zonneveld 25', Thom van Bergen 29', Andrej Kostic 85'.

Did Moneyball predict FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam correctly?

The prediction was right. Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was Over 3.25, and on 2-3 it was right.

Who was man of the match in FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam?

Jacob Ondrejka, rated 8.3 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed FC Groningen vs Sparta Rotterdam?

M. Vos.