Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Sturm Graz and Sporting Lisbon, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sturm Graz and Sporting Lisbon renew acquaintances when they meet in Klagenfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The two were drawn together in the groups of the Europa League last season, with Sporting winning 2-1 when Sturm were allowed to play at their home venue in Graz.
Match preview
© Imago
A shock title success in Austria saw Sturm qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 24 years last season, but they have struggled on the step up to this level.
Sturm lost their final two games in their group stage exit in 2000, and they have lost their first two this time around, going down in winnable games away to Brest and at home to Club Brugge.
Previous campaigns in Europe suggested Sturm would struggle, as the only time they have played European football into the new year was last season, when they dropped into the Conference League after finishing third behind Sporting in their Europa League section.
Despite their underwhelming results on the continent, Sturm have been excellent domestically again though, most notably by beating Red Bull Salzburg 5-0 before the international break.
Christian Ilzer‘s side netted five yet again at the weekend, putting local rivals Grazer to the sword, as Sturm sit top of the Austrian Bundesliga, and are the division’s top scorers.
Sporting have also been sensational domestically, winning eight from eight in the league so far, but they encountered some difficulties in the cup on Friday, needing a 94th-minute winner from Conrad Harder to beat second-tier relegation candidates Portimonense.
© Imago
That did maintain their unbeaten start, extending it to 11 games, with a draw against PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in this competition being the only game Ruben Amorim‘s side have failed to win this season.
Austria has not been a happy hunting ground for Sporting over the years though, as they have only won on one of their seven trips here, but that was in the meeting with Sturm last season.
History could be made if Sporting claim a result too, because after beating Lille and drawing with PSV, Amorim’s men have the opportunity to go three games unbeaten to start a Champions League campaign for the first time since 1962.
They have also never before gone three games in a row without defeat away from home in the Champions League, another feat which could be set here, and they will be fancied, considering they have not lost on the road since Atalanta knocked them out of the Europa League in March.
Sturm Graz Champions League form:
Sturm Graz form (all competitions):
Sporting Lisbon Champions League form:
Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Unsurprisingly given that it was a local derby, Ilzer picked a strong Sturm team against Grazer at the weekend, despite this game being just around the corner.
That allowed Mika Biereth to continue his excellent form, as the Sturm striker has five goals in three domestic games, but is yet to open his account in Europe.
On the injury front, Jon Gorenc-Stankovic, Gregory Wuthrich and Alexander Borkovic are all sidelined, with Arjan Malic also doubtful with a muscle issue.
Sporting rotated slightly for their game over the weekend, with goalkeeper Franco Israel, Geny Catamo, Hidemasa Morita and top scorer Viktor Gyokeres rested.
The Portuguese champions also have defensive issues, with Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande and Matheus Reis currently out injured, but the return of Jeremiah St Juste from injury is a blessing.
Further forward, Amorim has problems too, as key men Pedro Goncalves and Marcus Edwards are also struggling with injury at present, leaving most of the goalscoring responsibilities to Gyokeres, who has 16 goals for club and country this season.
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Lavalee, Aiwu; Yalcouye, Kiteishvili, Chukwuani, Geyrhofer; Boving, Biereth, Jatta
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, St Juste, Quaresma; Geny Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Nuno Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Quenda
We say: Sturm Graz 0-2 Sporting Lisbon
Despite their poor record in Austria, Sporting did end that barren run by winning away to Sturm last season, and even though they are weakened by injuries, the visitors will enter as strong favourites.
With two defeats from two so far, Sturm’s European campaign has not got going at all, and despite some fine wins domestically recently, this will be a much sterner test against an unbeaten Sporting.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.