Sturm Graz (Aut) vs Dyn. Kyiv (Ukr) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2022-08-08 18:30.
After losing the first leg 1-0 in Poland, Sturm Graz return to familiar surroundings at the Merkur-Arena seeking their first UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage appearance since 2000/01. An unbeaten start to the Austrian Bundesliga season (W1, D2) suggests that they have what it takes to overturn the deficit, especially as they’ve already enjoyed a standout domestic victory this season against UCL regulars RB Salzburg
Casting doubt over Sturm Graz’s chances though is a shocking return of just two victories across their last 15 European home games (D1, L12). Those victories came against opponents from Norway and Slovenia, each of which sit well below Ukraine in UEFA’s country coefficient rankings, and that’s not to mention the fact that Sturm Graz have also failed to win two of their previous three competitive clashes with Ukrainian opponents (D1, L1).
Competitive action has been few and far between for Dynamo Kyiv due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, though that didn’t stop them from showing their steel with that first-leg win. Even with just friendlies to keep them ticking over since the turn of the year, Dynamo Kyiv remain unbeaten in their only three competitive clashes in 2022 (W2, D1).
Their two UCL qualifying wins this season have somewhat turned the tide on Dynamo Kyiv’s European fortunes, as those are their only victories in this competition since December 2020 (W2, D2, L5). With no competitive form to analyse, perhaps Dynamo Kyiv’s solid previous record against Austrian opponents (W13, D2, L4) will be enough to inspire progression to the play-off round.
Players to watch: Rasmus Højlund had a hand in three of Sturm Graz’s four Austrian Bundesliga goals this season (G2, A1), including scoring both strikes at home. Oleksandr Karavaev scored the eventual match winning goal in both of Dynamo Kyiv’s UCL victories this year.
Hot stat: Sturm Graz kept just one clean sheet across their last 15 European home games, a run stretching back to 2011/12!