Lazio vs Sturm Graz prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-12 19:00.
A goalless draw in Austria last week saw Lazio end round three of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign level on four points (W1, D1, L1) with the other three Group F participants. Such a tight situation perhaps places added importance on this home encounter against Sturm Graz, and Maurizio Sarri’s men will be eager to follow up their impressive 4-0 victory against Fiorentina on Monday, which was interestingly their third consecutive league win by that scoreline!
You would back Lazio to do so after winning their last three matches at the Stadio Olimpico, netting ten goals in the process. While that’s helped Lazio keep up with the early Serie A pacesetters, one of those wins was also their only UEL victory this term (4-2 vs Feyenoord), a game which saw Lazio net three times before the half-hour mark. In fact their quick starts are proving to be a real threat so far this campaign, with Lazio now netting inside the opening 15 minutes in five of their last eight matches.
Sturm Graz are yet to progress from a UEL group stage, but with four points after their opening three matches, this could be their best chance yet to achieve that outcome. The Austrian outfit sit second in the Austrian Bundesliga and are in fine form after their 2-1 win over Tirol on Sunday, which was their seventh victory across the last ten competitive matches (D2, L1), so perhaps they will travel to Rome ready to spring an upset.
A run of three wins from their last four competitive away matches (L1) certainly builds belief of snatching all three points, though expectations are quickly tempered when considering that sole defeat came in their previous UEL away match in a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Feyenoord. That result means Sturm have now lost three consecutive away matches in Europe and they could now lose four in a row for the first time since November 1999, with the fourth game in that run ominously coming against another Italian side (Parma).
Players to watch: MatĂas Vecino scored the opener against Fiorentina and also netted twice in Lazio’s only home UEL match this season. The scorer of Sturm’s only UEL goal this season. Emanuel Emegha, returned from injury last weekend and three of his four goals this term have arrived beyond the 70th minute.
Hot stat: Lazio have led at half-time by 2+ goals in three of their last four matches.