Aberdeen face a reproper test on Thursday evening when Groningen travel to the North East of Scotland for the Europa League 2nd round qualifier. In every single way will they be one hundred times better than Latvian side Daugava Riga in every department. The Dons have found themselves a formidable foe.
Groningen FC of the Netherlands are very much like ourselves, a great team with players that can do damage on the break, defensively sound, have a great following of supporters and call themselves the "Pride Of The North". Now I'm afraid for this tie they will not be able to name themselves that, as we are in fact "The Pride In the North".
Derek McInnes has told us that Peter Pawlett has a chance of playing, which does sound doubtful to us. We really need Peter to be fit if we are going to deal damage to the Dutch in this tie and have all of our best players fit if we are to progress. Hayes looks to be in good shape after coming off with an injury over in Latvia last week, but that now looks as if it was more precautionary than anything else. The last thing McInnes wants at this stage would be a host of absentees due to injury.
David Goodwillie will be included in the squad as the manager told Sky Sports News. However the only problem with the new summer signing is he is not match sharp due to his severe lack of game time. He is fit as he can possibly be at this moment in time but to get to the peak of his fitness levels he needs games. Is this really the kind of game you want to be throwing somebody who is not match fit into?
It is thought that the Dutch side will come to Pittodrie and adopt and defensive approach to the game to begin with. That could change though possibly and in the second half and you could see the men in green pushing for a vital away goal that would give them the upper hand if the tie is in the balance.
The quality of the club is evident not only with their current players, but with the players that they have guided and brought through their youth system in the past. Arjen Robben was one of those before moving to PSV, Celtic signed Van Dijk from the club and they just sold one of their players to Ajax for 2M euros. Probably just as well...
However Aberdeen are favourites going into tomorrow's home tie, so don't expect a near unstoppable Dutch team that will tear the Dons limb from limb. They will be as wary of us as we are of them.
It will be close to a sell out game on Thursday with 14,000 already been sold and today the club confirmed their will be no cash turnstiles. That will lead to another flock of Dons fans scrambling for tickets at the last minute. Groningen are also expected to bring with them around 700 supporters, which will add a little spice to the atmosphere.
It is shaping up to be another special european night at Pittodrie!
Aberdeen v Groningen
Thursday 17th July 2014
Pittodrie Stadium
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