The 2005/06 season turned out to be one of the best in a long time for FC Groningen, with the club finishing 5th place in the league.<br />This allowed Groningen to enter the play-off tournament for the UEFA Champions League third round qualification.<br />However, they were beaten by Ajax in the finals who scored a goal two minutes before the final whistle.<br />By finishing fifth in the league, FC Groningen qualified for European football for the first time in 14 years, where they were defeated 4-3 on aggregate in the first round by Partizan Belgrade. (*)