PSV (Ned) vs Sturm Graz (Aut) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-08-07 18:30.
PSV and Sturm Graz could move a step closer to breaking their long-term absence from the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage when they meet in the first leg of the third qualifying round at the Philips Stadion. The Dutch giants haven’t played in the competition proper since 2018/19, but have reached the playoff-round in their last two attempts, losing to Rangers and Benfica. The Farmers should be confident of sowing the seeds of success here, having won the season-opening Johan Cruyff Shield with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord last week.
That is a shot in the arm for new manager Peter Bosz who, after his appointment, spoke about “reviving the times” when PSV dominated Dutch football. His focus will now quickly switch to qualifying for the UCL and a need to halt their six-game winless run in this competition over 90 minutes of action (D4, L2).
It has been a longer wait for Sturm to reach the UCL group stage than their hosts, having last reached that point in 2000/01. The visiting camp’s hopes of breaking that long drought will be buoyed by their unbeaten start (W3) to competitive action this season. However, their poor recent record in UCL qualifiers since their last group-phase appearance (W2, D3, L7) casts doubt upon their aspirations.
Sturm have also failed to win any of their five away games against Dutch clubs (D1, L4), including a 2-0 defeat at PSV in November 2021. That run includes a club record joint-heaviest European defeat (6-0) last season against Feyenoord, so the Austrians aren’t likely to look at history for inspiration. Even their recent UCL away record doesn’t provide much solace, as Sturm have lost eight of their last 12 games on the road in the competition (W1, D3).
Key battle: Luuk de Jong was the star of the show for PSV last year in the third qualifying round, scoring the extra-time winner at home against Monaco. He may have to beat Kjell Scherpen in the Sturm goal, with the Dutch stopper having kept successive clean sheets for his new employers.
Hot streak: PSV have won each of their six home UCL games in the third qualifying round, four with a clean sheet.