PEC Zwolle v Groningen: play-off push meets safety bid | OneFootball

PEC Zwolle host Groningen in the Eredivisie on Friday, 13 March 2026 in Zwolle, with the visitors eyeing the top half and the hosts looking to put more daylight between themselves and the relegation places.

The reverse fixture finished 2-2 in November, and this feels tight again: Groningen sit 10th on 34 points while PEC Zwolle are 13th with 29.

Form points to a live contest. Groningen snapped a four-game league losing run by beating Ajax 3-1 last time out, while Zwolle have drawn three on the spin after defeats by Volendam and Heerenveen.

Both sides manage key absences. For Zwolle, goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar and forwards Samir Lagsir and Jamiro Alvarenga are injured. Groningen list Oskar Zawada, Stije Resink and Tyrique Mercera among their sidelined players.

Tactically, Groningen's profile suggests volume and width: 51% possession, 297 shots and a high open-play crossing output with 20.44% accuracy, plus three penalties converted this season. Creative supply could come from Younes Taha, who has six league assists. Zwolle concede two goals per game on average, but Koen Kostons' 10 league goals and six assists give them a clear outlet. Set pieces have yielded just one goal, so transitions may be their route.

A home win would lift Zwolle to 32 points and could push them further from the bottom three. Victory for Groningen would take them to 37 points and may draw them closer to the European play-off places.