FC GRONINGEN (Euroborg Stadion)

EREDIVISE, FC GRONINGEN 1-0 PSV EINDHOVEN, ATTENDANCE: 19,776

After the shenanigans in Bremen the previous day, I came round, as opposed to woke up, in order to catch the 0854 train across the border into Holland. Destination was Groningen for their Eredivise game with PSV Eindhoven. 

The train stopped at the ground, which is about 1 mile out of town, and my first impression on alighting the train was this can't be the ground as we are in the middle of a business park and that looks like a block of offices rather than a football stadium.

Upon closer inspection it turns out it is a bit of both a one side of the ground is office space and the other side of the ground is a casino and Chinese restaurant (their all you can eat and drink buffet for 28 euros comes highly recommended).

Groningen moved to the Euroborg Stadion in 2006 after playing at the Oosterpark Stadion since 1933. It is a functional new build ground but the acoustics are fantastic and that made for a great atmosphere.

The crowd had plenty to cheer as well as their team produced a great performance to win the game 1-0. On any other day there could have been a sackful of goals, PSV probably guilty of missing 3 or 4 gilt edged chances.

The goal came early in the second period when the impressive Filip Kostic broke clear to slot home. It was Marco Bizot in the Green & White goal that was the hero of the day as he produced 4 top draw saves to keep PSV out.

Prior to the game I was told to keep and eye on two players on opposing sides as they are tipped for big things. PSV's Zakaria Bakkali is 17 year old Belgian winger and today he was a constant threat and arguably the visitors best player today. The other was Groningen's Richairo Zivkovic, who is also 17. He came on as a 2nd half substitute and looked a useful player with pace and a great touch. He nearly added a second late on for the homesters. 

After the match my friend and I headed into the delightful town centre where, slightly off the beaten track, we found a superb Belgian bar where we supped away into the early hours, whilst observing some local students making complete arses of themselves, some people eh?