# FC Groningen in European football

FC Groningen in European football includes the games which have been played by FC Groningen in European competitions organised by UEFA.
Groningen has played Atlético Madrid and Partizan most in European competition, meeting each team on four occasions. Against both opponents, Groningen recorded two victories and two defeats.

## History
### 1980s: First European matches

Groningen made their European debut in the 1983–84 UEFA Cup. In the first round, they won 4–2 on aggregate against Atlético Madrid, highlighted by a 3–0 home win. However, their campaign ended in the second round against Inter Milan, where despite a 2–0 home win, they were eliminated after a 5–1 away loss, resulting in a 5–3 defeat on aggregate.
The club returned to the UEFA Cup in the 1986–87 season. They secured victories over Galway United (8–2 on aggregate) and Neuchâtel Xamax (1–1 on aggregate, advancing on away goals) before being eliminated by Vitória S.C. in the third round.
In the 1988–89 UEFA Cup, Groningen again reached the third round. They faced Atlético Madrid in the first round, progressing on away goals. Subsequent victories over Servette (3–1 on aggregate) saw them advance to the third round, where they were defeated by VfB Stuttgart.

### 1990s: Brief appearances

The early 1990s saw Groningen make brief appearances in European competitions. In the 1991–92 UEFA Cup, they were eliminated in the first round by Rot-Weiß Erfurt, losing both home and away matches 1–0. The following season, 1992–93, Groningen were again eliminated in the first round, following a 2–1 defeat on aggregate against Vác FC-Samsung.

### 2000s: Return to European football

After a 13-year absence, Groningen returned to European football in the mid-2000s. In the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, they faced Partizan in the first round. Despite a 1–0 home victory, a 4–2 away loss led to a 4–3 loss on aggregate. The following season, 2007–08, saw them paired with Fiorentina in the first round. After both legs ended in 1–1 draws, Groningen were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out.

### 2010s: First major honour and Europa League participations

By winning the 2014–15 KNVB Cup, their first major honour, Groningen were granted direct entry into the group stages of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. Groningen faced Olympique de Marseille, Braga, and Slovan Liberec. They finished last in the group, drawing twice and losing four times.

## List of matches

    As of 10 December 2015
| Season | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 1983–84 UEFA Cup | First round | Atlético Madrid | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 |
| 1983–84 UEFA Cup | Second round | Inter Milan | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–5 |
| 1986–87 UEFA Cup | First round | Galway United | 5–1 | 3–1 | 8–2 |
| 1986–87 UEFA Cup | Second round | Neuchâtel Xamax | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 (a) |
| 1986–87 UEFA Cup | Third round | Vitória S.C. | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| 1988–89 UEFA Cup | First round | Atlético Madrid | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) |
| 1988–89 UEFA Cup | Second round | Servette | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| 1988–89 UEFA Cup | Third round | VfB Stuttgart | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| 1989–90 Cup Winners' Cup | First round | Ikast FS | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| 1989–90 Cup Winners' Cup | Second round | Partizan | 4–3 | 1–3 | 5–6 |
| 1991–92 UEFA Cup | First round | Rot-Weiß Erfurt | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| 1992–93 UEFA Cup | First round | Vác FC-Samsung | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| 1995 Intertoto Cup | Group 9 | Boby Brno Unistav | — | 1–2 | 2nd |
| 1995 Intertoto Cup | Group 9 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo | 3–0 | — | 2nd |
| 1995 Intertoto Cup | Group 9 | Beveren | — | 2–2 | 2nd |
| 1995 Intertoto Cup | Group 9 | Ceahlăul | 0–0 | — | 2nd |
| 1996 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Gaziantepspor | 1–1 | — | 3rd |
| 1996 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Narva Trans | — | 4–1 | 3rd |
| 1996 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Vasas | 1–1 | — | 3rd |
| 1996 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Lierse | — | 1–2 | 3rd |
| 1997 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Čukarički Stankom | 1–0 | — | 2nd |
| 1997 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Spartak Varna | — | 2–0 | 2nd |
| 1997 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Gloria Bistrița | 4–1 | — | 2nd |
| 1997 Intertoto Cup | Group 10 | Montpellier | — | 0–3 | 2nd |
| 2006–07 UEFA Cup | First round | Partizan | 1–0 | 2–4 | 3–4 |
| 2007–08 UEFA Cup | First round | Fiorentina | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 (3–4 p) |
| 2014–15 Europa League | 2nd qualifying round | Aberdeen | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| 2015–16 Europa League | Group F | Olympique de Marseille | 0–3 | 1–2 | 4th |
| 2015–16 Europa League | Group F | Braga | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4th |
| 2015–16 Europa League | Group F | Slovan Liberec | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4th |
| UEFA club coefficient: No information ||||||

## Record by competition

    As of 10 December 2015
| Competition | Participations | Games | Won | Draw | Lost | Goals scored | Goals conceded |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| UEFA Cup | 7 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 31 |
| UEFA Europa League | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 3 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 12 |
| Total | 13 | 48 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 60 |

## Record by country

    As of 10 December 2015
| | Country | Games | Won | Draw | Lost | Goals Scored | Goals Against | Opponents |
| 1 | Serbia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 10 | Čukarički Stankom (1), Partizan (4) |
| 2 | Germany | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | Rot-Weiß Erfurt (2), VfB Stuttgart (2) |
| 2 | Italy | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | Fiorentina (2), Inter Milan (2) |
| 2 | Portugal | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Braga (2), Vitória S.C. (2) |
| 2 | Spain | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | Atlético Madrid (4) |
| 2 | Switzerland | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | Neuchâtel Xamax (2), Servette (2) |
| 7 | Czech Republic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Boby Brno Unistav (1), Slovan Liberec (2) |
| 7 | France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | Montpellier (1), Olympique de Marseille (2) |
| 7 | Hungary | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Vác FC-Samsung (2), Vasas (1) |
| 10 | Belgium | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Beveren (1), Lierse (1) |
| 10 | Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | Etar Veliko Tarnovo (1), Spartak Varna (1) |
| 10 | Denmark | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | Ikast FS (2) |
| 10 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | Galway United (2) |
| 10 | Romania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | Gloria Bistrița (1), Ceahlăul (1) |
| 10 | Scotland | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Aberdeen (2) |
| 16 | Estonia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | Narva Trans (1) |
| 16 | Turkey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Gaziantepspor (1) |

## Top scorers

    As of 10 December 2015
| # | Goals | Player | Date of last goal | Competition |
| 1 | 6 | Mariano Bombarda | 13 July 1997 | 1997 Intertoto Cup |
| 2 | 5 | Henny Meijer | 18 October 1989 | 1989–90 Cup Winners' Cup |
| 2 | 5 | Peter Houtman | 1 October 1986 | 1986–87 UEFA Cup |
| 4 | 4 | Dean Gorré | 29 June 1996 | 1996 Intertoto Cup |
| 5 | 3 | Erwin Koeman | 19 October 1983 | 1983–84 UEFA Cup |
| 5 | 3 | Theo ten Caat | 1 November 1989 | 1989–90 Cup Winners' Cup |