Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Marcos Leonardo makes first Eredivisie start as Ajax lead Groningen 2-0
Marcos Leonardo started an Eredivisie match for Ajax for the first time against FC Groningen in the Netherlands.
Ajax had taken the lead through Leonardo after Julian Brandt set him up.
Ajax led Groningen 2-0 after a corner led to a goal involving Davy Klaassen, Marco Rente and Aaron Bouwman.
Earlier, goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen saved a penalty taken by Klaassen, after Leonardo had wanted to take it himself.
The match was a test for Ajax, who had dropped points in each of their previous two league games.
Groningen had won 5-1 at Excelsior the previous weekend.
The live update gave no final score, so the match was still in progress at 2-0.
Ajax led FC Groningen 2-0 at half-time in their Eredivisie match on 18 October 2026.
Marcos Leonardo made his first Eredivisie start for Ajax, according to AD.nl.
Julian Brandt scored in the 27th minute and Aaron Bouwman added a second goal in the 37th.
Ajax captain Davy Klaassen missed a penalty after Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen saved his shot.
Groningen scored early in the second half, but Ajax later extended their lead and won 4-1.
- Who
- Ajax and FC Groningen played, with Marcos Leonardo making his first Eredivisie start for Ajax.
- What
- Ajax led 2-0 at half-time and went on to win 4-1.
- When
- 18 October 2026.
- Where
- Euroborg, Groningen.
- Why
- The teams were playing in the ninth round of the Eredivisie.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Etienne Vaessen saved Davy Klaassen’s penalty for Ajax.
Julian Brandt scored to put Ajax ahead.
Aaron Bouwman scored Ajax’s second goal.
Ajax led FC Groningen 2-0.
Brynjólfur Willumsson scored for Groningen to make it 2-1.
Ajax won 4-1.
- Match
- FC Groningen 1-4 Ajax
- Half-time score
- FC Groningen 0-2 Ajax
- Venue
- Euroborg, Groningen
- Ajax first goal
- Julian Brandt, 27th minute
- Ajax second goal
- Aaron Bouwman, 37th minute
- Penalty save
- Etienne Vaessen saved Davy Klaassen’s 10th-minute penalty
6 sources
LIVE Eredivisie | Ajax via Brandt toch op voorsprong bij FC Groningen
Brandt knalt Ajax op voorsprong in Groningen • Klaassen mist strafschop
LIVE eredivisie | Ajax met flink gewijzigde opstelling tegen Groningen: Leonardo krijgt basisplaats
Liveblog | FC Groningen - Ajax
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3 - Etienne Vaessen has saved three of the last 16 penalties he has faced in the @eredivisie, with those three saves all coming against Ajax. Nemesis.