Celtic vs Sturm Graz prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-10-22 19:00.
[p]Sturm Graz travel to Glasgow looking to become the first team since Barcelona in 2007/08 to beat both Celtic and Rangers in the same European campaign.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]After winning just one of their last five matches (D2, L2), including a rare league defeat at Dundee on Sunday (2-0), Celtic are under pressure to rediscover their form and haul themselves up the UEFA Europa League (UEL) standings. After a slow start to the league phase (D1, L1), Brendan Rodgers’ side are currently outside of the knockout phase play-off positions but have time to improve with six matchdays remaining. Celtic Park could offer some respite given that the Bhoys have only lost one of their last 11 games here (W7, D3), although less encouragingly it was against Braga (L 2-0) on matchday one. [/p]
[p]Austrian Bundesliga leaders Sturm Graz have few such worries after winning each of their last four games, including beating Celtic’s rivals Rangers 2-1 on matchday two to bounce back from losing 2-0 to Midtjylland in their UEL opener. They have found it difficult to translate domestic success to the European stage as that triumph over Rangers was their first in this competition proper since October 2023 (D1, L4), and their travelling form makes for grim reading as they’ve now lost each of their last six European away games, failing to score in the last three.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These two sides have never previously met. Celtic have lost their last three games against Austrian opponents, while Sturm have won three of their five matches against Scottish teams (L2).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Celtic have conceded exactly twice in each of their last three fixtures.[/p]
[p]Celtic were given two yellow cards in four of their last five home matches.[/p]
[p]There’s been an average of 1.2 goals after the 80th minute per game across Sturm Graz’s last five outings.[/p]
[p]Sturm have scored at least twice in eight of their ten away games this season.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Kelechi Iheanacho has scored three times across seven appearances for Celtic this season, including their only UEL goal of this campaign, and each of his last five goalscoring appearances for any club saw both teams on the scoresheet. Sturm’s Tomi Horvat has four goal contributions in his last three club games (G1, A3), including scoring and assisting against Rangers.[/p]
[p]Daizen Maeda missed Celtic’s weekend defeat with a hamstring injury, while Paulo Bernardo sat that one out through illness. Sturm are hoping goalkeeper Oliver Christensen is available after he was forced off with a muscle problem at the weekend.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Celtic have flattered to deceive this season, especially in Europe, so our tip is to back Draw/Sturm in the double chance market.[/p]
[p][i]Author: John Pennington[/i][/p]