Sturm Graz vs Crvena zvezda prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-12-10 17:45.
[p]Sturm Graz are looking to close the gap to the top 24 in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) when they host a Red Star Belgrade side clinging onto their place in the qualification places.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A return of just one win from their five league phase games (D1, L3) leaves Sturm Graz two points adrift of the top 24 heading into matchday six. Their last two defeats coming by a one-goal margin highlights that the Austrian side are at least remaining competitive, while the two games they avoided defeat in both came at home. Sturm are unbeaten in five European home games overall (W4, D1), keeping three clean sheets therein, so confidence should remain high here, especially as they have won two of their three domestic games (L1) since losing to Panathinaikos on matchday five.[/p]
[p]After 1-0 wins over Lille and FCSB in their last two UEL matches, as many victories as in their 18 previous games in major UEFA competition (D2, L14), Red Star Belgrade are looking for a third successive European win for the first time since November 2020. Their place inside the top 24 will come under threat if they can’t improve on the road as that’s where both of their league phase defeats have come, with each loss seeing them concede exactly twice to Portuguese opponents. The Serbian giants have now actually lost 11 of their last 12 away group stage/league phase fixtures in Europe (W1)![/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first time that Sturm take on a Serbian side, while Red Star last faced an Austrian team in 1976/77![/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Sturm have the lowest goals per game average (0.66) of any side to have played 30+ UEL matches.[/p]
[p]There have been three or fewer total goals in Sturm’s last eight European home games.[/p]
[p]Just one of Red Star’s last six matches saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Red Star have conceded 2+ goals in 11 of their last 12 away group/league phase games in Europe.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Tomi Horvat has assisted the opening goal in both of Sturm’s December fixtures, while three of his four European goal contributions this season have come at home (G1, A2). Bruno Duarte has three assists across Red Star’s last three away games and got the winner against FCSB on matchday five.[/p]
[p]Sturm’s Dimitri Lavalée has missed their last two games, while Jeyland Mitchell, Filip Rózga and Leon Grgić were withdrawn from their weekend outing with injuries. Franklin Tebo Uchenna is suspended with Marko Arnautović injured for Red Star Belgrade [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given his strong recent form, we recommend backing Bruno Duarte to contribute to a goal.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Tom Penn[/i][/p]