Peter Pawlett recovered from an ankle injury in time to return to the starting line-up, while new signing David Goodwillie took his place amongst the substitutes.
Following a quiet opening five minutes in which the Dutch side looked to get comfortable on the ball, it was Pawlett who brought the Pittodrie crowd to their feet on six minutes with a silky piece of skill to leave Hans Hateoer trailing.
The attacking midfielder tried to find Niall McGinn with a low delivery, however it was hacked clear by the visiting defence.
Groningen’s first attempt came moments later, courtesy of a weak shot by Danny Hoesen which Jamie Langfield gathered with ease.
Pawlett had the beating of Hateboer again ten minutes later, marauding past the right-back before shooting from the inside-left channel, with goalkeeper Sergio Padt’s parried clearance fortuitously coming off his own defender and out for a corner.
The Dons survived a scare on 23 minutes when Serbian winger Filip Kostic sent a seemingly harmless low cross in from the left, with the home defence leaving the ball to run before watching it run perilously close to Langfield’s left-hand post.
Hateboer avoided going into the book for a clumsy challenge on Pawlett, however had his marker beaten once more two minutes later, before releasing Niall McGiin whose first-time shot was blocked by the onrushing Padt.
Aberdeen were beginning to dictate the tempo and Willo Flood sent a glorious ball in from the right which Jonny Hayes met with a looping header, with Padt clinging onto his effort under pressure from Adam Rooney – who was penalised for impeding the keeper.
As the game edged closer to half-time Groningen reminded the Dons of their threat on 42 minutes. Hateboer’s cross from the right took a deflection off Mark Reynolds, and after Langfield clawed the ball wide, the hosts breathed a sigh of relief as Hoesen’s flick across goal was mopped up on the line by Shaleum Logan.
Aberdeen: Langfield, Logan, Anderson, Reynolds, Hayes, Jack Flood, Robson, Pawlett, McGinn, Rooney.
Subs: Brown, Taylor, Considine, Low, Smith, Goodwillie, Wright.
FC Groningen: Padt, Hateboer, Botteghin, Kappelhof, Burnet, Lindgren, Kieftenbeld, Chery, van der Velden, Hoesen, Kostic.
Subs: van der Vlag, Magnasco, van Nieff, Hiariej, de Leeuw, Islamovic, Antonia.