Overview
- Sparta advanced to the second round with a 5-2 win at Het Kasteel, knocking Groningen out in the first round.
- Sayfallah Ltaief scored inside the opening minutes before Younes Taha and Thom van Bergen put Groningen 2-1 up at halftime.
- Tobias Lauritsen equalized from a Jens Toornstra corner, Bruno Martins Indi headed Sparta in front, and substitute Ayoub Oufkir added two late goals.
- Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen was sent off for handling outside the area, forcing outfield player Mats Seuntjens to finish in goal after all substitutions were used.
- VAR was not in operation for this round, and a supporter boycott of a mandatory bus-only travel policy left roughly ten Groningen fans in the away section.